Avalanșa could have the best second line in NHL?

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the Avalanche crime turned around four before, almost all year. It was Nathan Mackinnon, Arturi Lehkonen, one of Mikko Rantanen or Martin Necas, and anyone who was healthy at one point between Jonathan Drouin and Valeri Nichushkin

My weekly column Monday asked if the avalanche season is worth saving. At that time, it didn’t seem to me.

But, in a way, the front office not only saved him, but made the type of movements that raised Colorado from an intermediate Wildcard team to one of the first competitors of the League Cup again. There is no question that it came with a strong cost of assets, but it was needed.

Kudos to ice players to maintain this team at the line line long enough to allow the Front Office.

This brings us until Saturday. AVS got their first look on what the new list looks like. Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle and Ryan Lindgren, all in the team, all healthy and all have an impact. It was the first look at all, plus a completely healthy line (outside Gabriel Landeskog).

It was the first time we got to see what Jared Bednar has to work with when everyone is at his disposal. The first returns were great. Colorado surpassed Toronto, despite the fact that he fell into a two-hole hole. That’s why they managed to climb from it without hesitation.

The second line looked like an absolute weapon. Jonathan Drouin is healthy and produces. Play a strong two -way game. Valeri Nichushkin continues to do what he does best when he plays hockey. And was rewarded with a hat trick.

Nelson, the center that connects the line together, was an instant match. He also played a strong two -way game and was visible in all the right ways. He offered Bednar a second -reliable secondary option in all situations after Mackinnon, which was not one thing since Nazem Kadri left in 2022.

The trio had a few mistakes that led directly to the leafs goals. But you can see something that forms between the three. They had 59% of shooting attempts and five chances of scoring against Toronto, when they were on ice together.

It was for the first time in a long time, when AVS had a top line outside Mackinnon’s line with which they could side and feel confident. It is an unexpected territory – something that had not had 2022.

If that second line continues to build chemistry. If he continues to realize the other games and continue to support his strengths, I wonder about something that did not come to my mind, again, 2022. Forgive that I jumped the weapon in this regard, but I still have to ask:

Avalanșa could have the best second line in NHL?

Drouin spent most of the last year the honor of his 200 -meter game. Bednar often credits him because he has made progress and put on work to become a two-way player, who can also produce an offense at a point on the game. His biggest obstacle was health. But he has this right now.

Nichushkin has many more obstacles to deal with, especially outside the ice. But on the ice, you can’t argue how valuable it is. Colorado is 19-7-0 with him in line and 19-17-2 without. Since Mackenzie Blackwood has made its debut with AVS, they have a 12-1-0 record with Nichushkin in line and 9-9-2 without it.

Nelson completes a line that can be both an offensive dynamite and has the ability to play a closing role. By purchasing it, it allows Bednar the ability, if necessary, to carry out the second line against the top line of any team, which in turn releases Necaas, Lehkonen and Mackinnon.

Becomes better than that? May be. But an argument must be made that this is the best.

The East Conference has strong competitors in this category.

Florida, when he is healthy, will fight. Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand will probably be staples of the second lines. And whether is Sam Reinhart or Matthew Tkachuk, this line will be a dominant force. I still think they will play Bennett, Marchand and Tkachuk because you imagine -try to match the three of the playoff.

Tampa Bay is also an interesting case. At the moment, Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kuherov have as a second line. This is far away and the best in the league. No doubt.

But will Kucrov will actually stay there?

Now he plays there because Oliver Bjorstrand is with Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point. If you change Bjorstrand and Kucherov, it is still a second strong line, but the AVS trio could provide a run for the best in the league.

The capitals are also a fascinating team this year, largely because the second line consists of three players who are much larger factors this year than a season ago. Connor Mcichael and Aliaksei Protas have both taken massive jumps in their development. And Pierre-Luc Dubois, at least so far, has found a house.

But what about the Western Conference?

Dallas has Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene and Mikael Granlund. Also, a great line, but I would still take AVS.

In Vegas, there is Brandon Saad, Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev. Ivan Barbashev could finally replace SAAD. However, the avalanche is more preferable.

Los Angeles has Kopitar Anze between Adrian Kompe and Andre KuzMmeko. One of these things is not like the other two and that is why it is not far and better than AVS. Although I will say, Kempe, at least for me, is one of the most under -applying league players.

Winnipeg has always been a team in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is the case again for the second line, which consists of Nikolaj Ehlers, Vladislav Namestnikov and Cole Perfetti. You could see why they made a strong press for Nelson.

The second line of Oilers is not a great threat this year.

What do you say?