New Coach and Youth Make Colorado Avalanche a Team To Watch

The off season additions of new coach Joe Sacco, as well as some outstanding draft choices and young talent from the minors, has transformed the Colorado Avalanche, who finished a disappointing 32-45-5 last season, into a team full of promise, that will be in the hunt for a Division Title and a playoff berth.

Adding Coach Joe Sacco has brought about a total change in the teams play style and intensity. Now, this team plays for a full three periods, and when they posess a lead, they are no longer playing not to loose, but trying to add to the lead and bringing their best game forward for the entire game.

The play style of this seasons Avalanche is hard charging offense and solid defense. Never say die is the new attitude, and this team has fought from behind on more than one occasion this season. Something they seriously lacked in the past couple of seasons. The youth that has been added to this team has brought a pace of play that has not been seen for several seasons.

To see the hard charging, fast paced Avalanche of the 2009-10 season is reminisant of seasons past when the Avs were blessed with talent at their prime such as Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and the great Patrick Roy. It is a thrill to see this team play for 60 full minutes and fly from end to end for the entire time.

Coaching has also showed a marked change in the teams play when it comes to the basics. This season you will see sharp, chrisp passing, tape to tape, and a well thought out game plan. It is a pleasure to see this team play if you love the game of hockey. They have mastered the basics and it shows.

It is also a new experience to see this team play with confidence in not only their defense, but in the net. The addition of Craig Anderson in goal, has made a marked improvement in the teams performance. Peter Budaj has been religated to a back up position where he should have been last season. As talented as he is, he is not a number one goalie, and never has been. With Anderson in net, the team now shows a new confidence. A confidence that if they can get put the shots on net, thet the defense and Anderson can keep them in any game against any opponent.

Having a disappointing season last year did have a reward. The dismal finish allowed the Avalanche to obtain the number three draft choice overall. With it they were able to pick up Matt Duchene. This 18 year old Center, from Haliburton, Ontario, will without a doubt, become a mainstay of not only this team, but the NHL.

Drafted third overall, he has notched up 10 goals, 13 assists for 23 points so far this season, as well earning a spot on the starting line. His presence if being felt with a new enthusiam and speed that the Avalance has not shown for several seasons.

Over all, this seasons Avalanche are turning heads in the League, with their fast paced play and re-charged defense. They currently are first in the Northwest Division, three points ahead of Calgary, third in the Western Conference, and 7th overall in the NHL. A vast difference from last season when the Avs ended up last in the Western Conference. This is a team on the rise, a team coming together and just beginning to show the promise they have.