No one may dial 4-1-1 anymore, and I suppose the younger generation doesn’t even know what the expression means, but “4-1-1” still has a nice ring to it. Regardless, below is a tidbit of Avalanche news you may, or may not, have missed since I haven’t posted after the unfortunate event of Game 7. Turns out, in the world of Avid Avaholics, no news is usually bad news, but as we are encroaching the two month mark of the loss, my mourning must come to an end because there have been developments worth commenting on.
Cale Makar Recipient of Calder Trophy
The Professional Hockey Writers Association selected our Cale Makar as the winner of 2019-2020 Calder Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year. Makar became the first defenseman in franchise history to receive the award, and joins the ranks of fellow Avalanche/Nordique recipients Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Chris Drury, Peter Forsberg, and Peter Stastny. Makar is only the second defenseman to win the award in the last ten years, and the 12th in NHL history.
Makar began his career with the Avalanche during the 2019 playoff campaign against the Calgary Flames, where he scored on his first shot on net during his debut game. With this feat, Makar became the first defenseman in NHL history to score his first career goal in his inaugural playoff game. His great year continued through the next season, with 50 points in 57 contests during the regular season and 15 points in 15 games during the playoffs. This recognition for his outstanding year is well deserved, and we can only look forward to what is sure to be an exciting career for the young Cale.
Nathan MacKinnon Awarded Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
Lady Byng enjoyed hockey, and particularly was found of good sportsmanship and want to reward it, thus her contribution of the trophy.
Natty Mac raked up 93 regular season points (35 goals, 58 assists), with 25 points (9 goals, 16 assists) during 15 playoff games, and accrued only 12 penalty minutes in 69 regular season games, making him an easy choice as the winner of this trophy that is presented “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."
For those of you who are wondering, the namesake of the trophy stems from the woman who donated the original trophy in 1925 - Lady Byng of Vimy. At the time she was the viceregal consort of Canada. Of winning the Lady Byng MacKinnon said, “I never thought I’d win this award.” Probably because he deserves to win the Hart Trophy, which goes to the player judged as most valuable to the team, not that he would ever say that.
This award is one more that he can add to his collections of honors that his compatriot from Cole Harbor, Nova Scotia, Sidney Crosby, doesn’t have. Crosby has never won the Lady Byng, and probably never will. “Sid, I guess, just plays a little harder than I do. I've got to get a little dirtier out there," MacKinnon said. MacKinnon also won the Calder Trophy in 2014, where Crosby was outshined in his rookie year to Ovechkin.
Avs Acquire Brandon Saad and Devon Toews
The Avalanche made moves to bring more depth to the team by trading five year Av, Nikita Zadorov, and prospect Anton Linholm for the Chicago Blackhawk forward, Brandon Saad and defenseman Dennis Gilbert. At 27, Saad has won two Stanley Cups and Sakic commented, “He goes to the net; he gets his goals. We have a lot of great shooters, perimeter shooters, but he will be getting to the front of the net and getting those dirty goals”. After watching goal after Dallas goal in this fashion, it is clear that the Avs do need more grit. The Avs can play a beautiful game and get the highlight worthy goals with their crisp passing and speed, but are severely lacking in the hard physicality that Dallas dominated us in.
I never like when players are traded, but truthfully the element that I liked best about Zadorov was his nickname I coined, “Baked Ziti”. Due to his size of 6-6 he is a dominant force on the ice, but would take senseless penalties, and think that Saad will be a welcomed addition to the club. With that being said, we wish Big Z the best in his new home, and may have to try my hand at whipping up some ziti in his honor.
Additionally, the Avs signed Devon Toews from the New York Islanders in exchange for second round draft picks in 2021 and 2022. The defenseman from Abbotsford, British Columbia had 28 points last season, the second highest for Islander defensemen. The Avalanche need a stronger defensive core, with all the injuries that plagued the team in Western Conference Finals, building up defense is never a bad idea.
Pepsi Center Gets a New Name
It was announced last week that Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and Ball Corporation have agreed on a partnership and Pepsi Center will henceforth be known as Ball Arena. The Westminster, CO based aluminum beverage packaging company has partnered with KSE “on a shared vision to advance sustainability in sports and entertainment by strengthening in-venue aluminum recycling, providing fans with a more environmentally friendly fan experience, and showcasing aluminum beverage packaging as the most sustainable choice.”
The sustainability efforts sound appealing, and not to diminish the purpose of the partnership, but will they still serve Pepsi? You may call me crazy, but I swear that Pepsi Center has the best fountain soda Pepsi. I’m going to be disheartened if I have to switch my arena beverage of choice, not like we will actually be going to an in-person event anytime soon.
While I don’t do well with change, particularly when it comes to the Avs, I think that since Ball Corp creates aluminum beverage packaging, I can take solace in the fact that we can still call it The Can. I always liked that name over Pepsi Center anyways.
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It is now nearly November, and we should be underway in the 2020-21 season, but as it is, the NHL is hoping to commence the season in January 2021. What that is going to look like, I doubt anyone really knows. Until then, we can only be patient and hope for the best. Whenever the league does start, at least we know the Avs will have a roster that is built for a successful season, and we all can use something positive to look forward to. Even if it is months away.