NHL Report: Young and Restless Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche have always been a model for success. Since 1994 they have placed either second or first in their conference. This year has been a minor setback. The loss of key players in the off-season coupled with the addition of many rookies into the lineup has the Avalanche on the outside looking in as far as a playoff spot is concerned. Despite the playoff picture this season, the Avalanche have quickly managed to add young, impact players that will surely bolster their chances for seasons to come. Colorado has a knack for getting their picks to develop faster than most teams and players like Paul Stastny, Brad Richardson, and Peter Budaj are no exception, as they have all stepped in and beginning to make their mark. McKeen's was on hand for a recent contest featuring the Avalanche and files these notes.

Paul Stastny – Centre

Came into the game riding a 16-game point streak and has since broken Teemu Selanne's rookie record (17) before it snapped at 20 games .. an impressive pedigree coming from an outstanding hockey playing family - his father being the legendary Peter Statsny .. a cerebral player who is always in the right place to score .. works extremely hard and even though his skating is average, it doesn't hold him back as he is always moving .. hockey sense prevails as he shows remarkable poise in his decision making and where he goes after he distributes the puck .. his mental game is his best feature .. even though his speed is not great, he has enough quickness to close the gap and angle off the opposition which he uses to his advantage.. his strength allows him to keep his balance while being checked and can even get his shot off .. can make moves stickhandling wise and passing in traffic .. takes a beating but still comes back for more and like his father, he refuses to be intimidated and keeps powering through to the net .. has played so consistent this season that he is second in rookie scoring and looks to be a legitimate candidate for the Calder Trophy .. his enthusiastic approach to the game bodes well for him in terms of future success and it is not out of the question to suggest that he could easily duplicate these offensive totals next season.

Brad Richardson – Wing

Managed to play more than half the season in the NHL last season, as he started the year with Lowell but finished with the Avalanche .. plays an eager game and it is not unusual to see him wrestling along the sides of the boards to make a play, even though he is very slight by NHL standards .. great acceleration and is used on the PK as a result .. has great puck skills and can control the puck while skating at top speeds .. will register most of his goals around the net due to his speed and ability to get to loose pucks however, he is able to convert from the outside as well .. shows a level of finesse that could make him a respectable scorer, but adopts a defensive approach most likely attributed to the system in place, as he often retreats more than he attacks.

Wojtek Wolski – Left Wing

After demolishing the OHL last season with the second highest points-per-game ratio and being named OHL MVP, Wolski joins the Avalanche on a fulltime basis this season and lines up with Sakic and Brunette .. does not look out of place though at times, his lack of movement in the neutral zone hinders him from fully joining a play .. in the offensive zone his instincts take over and he has an innate ability to set up shop and know where to be .. the physical side to his game is still rather undesirable however in his defence, he at least tries to hit players which is something he did not attempt to do in junior .. balance and strength is still an issue as he was knocked down a few times in tight spaces .. making adjustments defensively but must constantly work on his positioning .. simply put he is an offensive dynamo that may come with some bad habits now, but his offensive game more than compensates for his defensive shortcomings .. already a 20-goal scorer, and should be able to continue scoring in the NHL, as he becomes more acclimatized with the players.

John-Michael Liles – Defence

The new NHL welcomes a player like Liles .. elusive and clever, he boasts strong puck skills and is able to skate freely with his outstanding first-step quickness .. small in stature but packs quite a punch in terms of playing the opposition tough and uses his feet to position himself well .. skating is his best asset as he pivots well using his edges .. not afraid to take chances in the offensive zone and it is not unusual for him to skate the puck deep, directly into the offensive zone .. is equally adept at getting his shot off or making a quick accurate pass .. his first pass and vision sets him apart as the team's best offensive weapon from the back end .. plays a very cautious game and rarely if ever, finds himself without options, as he is aware enough to see his options and create others when the puck is in his possession .. a broken foot slowed him down, but he looks fully recovered and continues to improve on his offensive totals every season.

Ossi Vaananen – Defence

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he is certainly one of the biggest defenders on this team .. plays a very physical game and is not known for his offensive prowess .. will never be a scorer but can shut down top lines with his no-nonsense approach .. determined, he maintains his position very well and is not against taking an extra shot at a player if he has him lined up against the wall .. great mobility for his size and has learned to stay positionally sound and does not get carried away or try to do too much .. communicates well with defenders and works better when partnered with an offensive-minded defender, who can lead the charge while he takes care of the defensive responsibilities .. despite trade rumours, he has been able to put that behind him and help out this relatively young, unproven defence.

Peter Budaj – Goaltender

The surprise story for the Avalanche, Budaj has come in and all but stole the starting job from Jose Theodore .. his improved play is one of the main reasons that the Avalanche almost prevailed in their late-season playoff surge .. a world class goalie for Slovakia being named their starting goalie for all three recent tournaments including the Olympics, the World Cup, and the World Juniors .. moves exceptionally well laterally as he is very agile .. not uncommon for him to challenge a forward deep in the paint and force him to beat him with a perfect shot .. is quick down low, he recovers well and is always poised to make the next save due to his balance in the net .. kicks out rebounds to players in an attempt to make a play .. what makes him so effective is his ability read and anticipate the play quickly .. is capable of making big saves and is a clutch performer .. while not overly versed at handling the puck, he is making more of an effort to play it up the ice .. since taking over for Theodore in the starter's role, he should see many productive seasons in front of him, as Colorado's goaltending depth is relatively thin.