It's Friday! And that means our Locked on Summer Road Trip continues! Today we head to Minnesota to have a great chat with Seth Toupal of Locked on Wild. Minnesota had a pretty quiet offseason, but there is of course a reason for that. How large are the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter looming? Seth also talks about the Wild draft picks for this season, and is the expectation for them to be part of this team, or are they going to be used in any potential deals as a way to keep the Wild in c...
Aug 04, 2023•34 min•Ep. 750
With the signing of Ben Meyers to a one-year, league minimum deal, the Colorado Avalanche roster is all but set. So today, we take a few players from that roster who we think will have an improved season. Maybe not an off-the-charts, welcome to superstardom type of season, but one where they took a step up from the season before. We also look at the opposite, and talk about who could have a struggling year, and why. We have now reached August. Which for the NHL season is when pretty much nothing...
Aug 02, 2023•34 min•Ep. 749
It's Friday! Which means our Locked on Summer Road Trip continues as we head into the Windy City to meet with Jack Bushman of Locked on Blackhawks. Obviously, a lot has gone on with the Hawks this summer, starting with nabbing that #1 overall pick and getting the coveted prize of phenom Connor Bedard. Jack remembers the moment the Blackhawks card was turned and his reaction, as well as what we can expect from him in his rookie season. We also talk about the plan the front office has to build aro...
Jul 28, 2023•36 min•Ep. 748
Soon obviously meant 24 hours. Nikolai Kovalenko signed his ELC contract of two years which will come in at just under $900k AAV. Even though we won't see the Avs top prospect until late in the season, one thing is for sure is that Avalanche fans will have their calendars circled for whenever he makes his debut, as the expectations are pretty high for the youngster. Expectations are always high when it comes to Devon Toews, and ever since joining the Avs he has delivered. Now, one of the best va...
Jul 26, 2023•37 min•Ep. 747
We all know the Colorado Avalanche have a pretty thin prospect pool, but that doesn't mean they don't have guys they are anxiously waiting for to make their debut. Nikolai Kovalenko is easily their #1 prospect and word spread over the weekend that he is close to signing a deal with the Avs. Kovalenko would have to finish this season in the KHL, but would come to the Avs when that season is over, usually in March. Which will be a very interesting time of the season to join the squad. We discuss. ...
Jul 24, 2023•32 min•Ep. 746
Our Locked on Summer Road Trip continues! This time we head north to the great state of Michigan and check in with hosts of Locked on Red Wings, Brian Fisher and Scott Bentley! Of course we discuss the signing of J.T. Compher. Are Brian and Scott ok with the AAV? We also discuss one of the guys who brought these two fan bases together in Darren Helm, of called it a career this offseason. We dive into this exciting offseason the Wings have had so far, and is now the time to take that next step an...
Jul 21, 2023•24 min•Ep. 745
Our Locked on Summer Road Trip continues! This time we head north to the great state of Michigan and check in with hosts of Locked on Red Wings, Brian Fisher and Scott Bentley! Of course we discuss the signing of J.T. Compher. Are Brian and Scott ok with the AAV? We also discuss one of the guys who brought these two fan bases together in Darren Helm, of called it a career this offseason. We dive into this exciting offseason the Wings have had so far, and is now the time to take that next step an...
Jul 21, 2023•37 min•Ep. 744
The Colorado Avalanche avoided an arbitration hearing with Ross Colton and hammered out a deal that will pay the newly acquired member of the team $4 million annually for the next four years. Most in the sports community figured the deal would be between $3-4 million. Even though that's right where it came in at, many were thinking it was a little bit of an overpay. We discuss our thoughts on the deal. We also get to a few listener questions including why next offseason will not be very exciting...
Jul 19, 2023•34 min•Ep. 743
Now that most of the dust has settled after a furious free agency period, a draft and some trades, we can start to look forward to next season and ask five burning questions facing the Colorado Avalanche. The questions we tackle are: 1- Will the new acquisitions make a big enough impact? 2- Did the Avalanche do enough to address their needs? 3- Should the Avs name a temporary captain for this season? 4- Could the Avalanche have three different players hit the 100 point mark? Could they get four!...
Jul 17, 2023•29 min•Ep. 742
Our Locked on Summer Road Trip continues as we head to sunny Florida to join host of Locked on Lightning Adam Denker! Adam shares with us his thoughts on the offseason so far with the Lightning. How in the world will they get cap compliant, and why didn't they go about this differently when everyone could see the cap issues coming three years ago?! Adam also tells us what we are getting from Ross Colton and why he thinks he will fit in perfectly with what the Avalanche are trying to do. Tune in,...
Jul 14, 2023•38 min•Ep. 741
The Montreal Canadiens gave Alex Newhook a new 4 year, $2.9 AAV contract this week, and Alex was made available to the press once the ink dried. He, of course, commented about his time with the Colorado Avalanche and made some interesting remarks about how he was used, going as far as to say he did not get enough opportunity with the Avs. Hmmmm... We also answer a couple listener questions that ask which core will go down as the best in franchise history, and if the Avs were to put an ad on thei...
Jul 13, 2023•31 min•Ep. 740
Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar are the names associated with the Colorado Avalanche. They were all drafted in the decade that now defines who the Avalanche are today. But not every draft pick between 2010 and 2019 were home runs. Today we take a look at that decade and do a modified "re-drafting" of those years. The players we keep are pretty obvious, but who was available the same year the Avs took Connor Bleackley? Martin Kaut? What could have been is always...
Jul 11, 2023•36 min•Ep. 739
The Colorado Avalanche still have a few moves to make to fill out their roster. But the biggest moves have been made. When the Avalanche brought in players like Jonathan Drouin, Ryan Johansen, Miles Wood and Ross Colton, they said goodbye to now former Avs JT Compher, Evan Rodrigues, Alex Newhook and Matt Nieto. How do the players who left the Avs compare to the new players replacing them? We take a look at some JFresh analytic cards to find out. Tune in, subscribe and enjoy! Subscribe to our Su...
Jul 10, 2023•31 min•Ep. 738
Tony Cordasco of Locked on VGK is our first stop on our Locked on Summer Road Trip! Why not visit with the host of the team who took our Championship title away? Tony tells us how the fans of Vegas are feelings, how they have been celebrating, and what the expectations are for Vegas heading into next season. He also fills us in on how the moves Vegas has been making so far in the offseason, and how much of a risk was it giving Aiden Hill that new contract? Tony is always entertaining so you don'...
Jul 07, 2023•37 min•Ep. 737
The Colorado Avalanche have been pretty active before, during and after the draft. But their work is not done just yet. The two big spots still left to fill are a 4th line forward, and who will be tagged to play on the 3rd defensive paring? We discuss. We also take some listener questions that tackle if we feel this team is better than last year, what our confidence level is at, and which player will the that "swiss army knife" type of forward now that Evan Rodrigues and JT Compher have moved on...
Jul 06, 2023•30 min•Ep. 736
The Colorado Avalanche Schedule was released about a week ago, and a lot has happened since then that has prevented us from being able to discuss it. Finally, on today's episode, we can dive into the Avs schedule for the upcoming season and talk about the games we are looking forward to, all the back-to-backs, and all the road trips the team seems to have this year. We also feel the need to discuss the annual hot dog eating contest that takes place every 4th of July. Joey Chestnut won....again, ...
Jul 05, 2023•32 min•Ep. 734
The Colorado Avalanche and the rest of the NHL got their free agency season underway, and the Avs made a couple of moves over the weekend to start filling the holes in their roster. In typical recent Avalanche fashion, none of the moves were groundbreaking, as the club brought in Miles Wood on a $2.5 AAV deal with a somewhat surprising 6-year term. They also took a swing on a one year deal for Jonathan Drouin in hopes he can recapture the Halifax Moosheads magic he once had with Nathan MacKinnon...
Jul 03, 2023•33 min•Ep. 733
The off-season Avalanche train continues to roll early on as the 2nd round pick the Colorado Avalanche picked up from the Montreal Canadiens in the Alex Newhook deal, was flipped to the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday morning for forward Ross Colton. Then it was draft time, and the Avs held on to both of their 1st round picks and selected center Calum Ritchie at pick 27, then Mikhail Gulyayev at 31. If that name sounds familiar it's because that is who we here at Locked on Avalanche selected in ou...
Jun 29, 2023•30 min•Ep. 741
The Colorado Avalanche have drafted Russian defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev with the 31st-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Chris Micieli of Locked On Avalanche joins Gil Martin and Hadi Kalakeche to discuss the selection of a defenseman who could bring the Avs some serious value considering how late in the first round they were able to snag him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Jun 29, 2023•6 min•Ep. 740
The Colorado Avalanche have selected Oshawa Generals forward Calum Ritchie with the 27th-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Chris Micieli of Locked On Avalanche joins Gil Martin and Hadi Kalakeche to react to the pick and discuss Ritchie’s blend of skill and grit will be a very welcome addition to an Avalanche prospect group that is in need of some building after the Avs run to the Stanley Cup in 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Jun 29, 2023•6 min•Ep. 739
The Colorado Avalanche turned some heads Tuesday afternoon when they dealt away Alex Newhook to the Montreal Canadiens for two draft picks and defenseman Gianni Fairbrother. The picks coming back to the Avalanche are #31 and #37 in this years draft. So the Avalanche went from having a singular pick over the first four rounds, to having three in 10 picks. What they do with those picks now is where the fun begins. It is not likely the Avs keep all three of those selections. What is more likely is ...
Jun 28, 2023•30 min•Ep. 731
In this special bonus presentation of Locked On NHL, Gil Martin and Hadi Kalakeche react to selections 22 through 32 in the 2023 Locked On NHL Mock Draft, including the pick made by the Colorado Avalanche. Tune into the full three-part Mock Draft on the Locked On NHL podcast feed or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/u5YU7rtNC_0 Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors...
Jun 26, 2023•29 min•Ep. 737
We knew the Colorado Avalanche needed to address the 2C position. We just didn't expect it to happen so quickly! The Avalanche wasted no time addressing the team's biggest need this offseason when they acquired Ryan Johansen from the Nashville Predators for UFA Alex Galchenyuk. Nashville is also soaking up 50% of Johansen's contract, which means the Avs are only on the hook for $4 million a year for the next two years. It's a great move any way you slice it for Colorado. Johansen is a big body a...
Jun 26, 2023•31 min•Ep. 730
It truly is the end of an era in Denver. The Colorado Avalanche and it's current longest tenured player in Erik Johnson are going their separate ways. Johnson does not appear to be retiring and still wants to play. So when the free agency period opens up, Johnson will be free to sign with a team that wants to bring him in. We also have Locked on NHL Prospects host Hadi Kalakeche on to discuss the upcoming draft. Hadi discusses our mock selection for the Avs at #27, as well as taking a look at al...
Jun 23, 2023•40 min•Ep. 729
In what was long overdue, Pierre Lacroix, also known as the man who put together two Stanley Cup winning teams in Denver, will enter the NHL Hall of Fame. We look back on how Lacroix did business, and how he would do any and everything possible to make the Avalanche better. We also rank our top 5 best and worst draft picks in Avalanche history. Tune in, subscribe and enjoy! Subscribe to our Subtext to talk to us directly! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonavalanche Follow & Subscribe on all Po...
Jun 22, 2023•36 min•Ep. 728
*****FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!!***** Just wanted to make that clear. But, what if the Chicago Blackhawks, with that coveted #1 pick, called up the Colorado Avalanche and said "we have a #1 pick (Bedard) and you have some superstars. Let's talk". We lay out why the Avalanche would never do this, but why Chicago might have some interest in pulling the trigger. We also get to Mikko Rantanen's season grade. Spoiler alert...all A's Finally, the outdoor games are enjoyed by many. Where are some...
Jun 21, 2023•32 min•Ep. 727
The NHL and Fanatics released the top 5 team jerseys sold from last year, and the Colorado Avalanche are at #5. They were also the first of the west coast teams. What does this mean? Well, it means people are not only paying attention to the Colorado Avalanche, but they are also buying their gear as well. For a team that isn't readily available in big box stores across the country, it also means people are likely going out of their way to purchase Avs gear online, so it is reaching people in all...
Jun 20, 2023•30 min•Ep. 726
As the Vegas Golden Knights were raising the Stanley Cup, the odds for next season were already hot off the press, and at the top of that list was the Colorado Avalanche. Las Vegas continues to be enamored with the Avs and how can you not be when the meat of the team is locked up. As long as the Avalanche can fill in the holes and stay healthy, they should be at the top of most lists to get another championship. We also take a look a trade that went down between the Avs and the Dallas Stars. Dal...
Jun 16, 2023•34 min•Ep. 725
The Colorado Avalanche are no longer the defending Stanley Cup champions and are now one year removed from their championship run. But the smell of that championship is still in the air around Denver. The Denver Nuggets and their championship is only 24 hours old. The DU Men's hockey team took the national title in 2022 and the Mammoth took the Lacrosse title. Bottom line is that the city of Denver and the state of Colorado have seen a handful of championships and all have been very recent. Does...
Jun 14, 2023•33 min•Ep. 724
Maybe it's a little early to ask this question considering the Avalanche don't have their roster situated for next season, but does that even matter? Do the Avalanche have a mindset that they are confident they can keep putting together a winning team? If so, we can ask the question now, which is what would be a successful season next year for the Avalanche? Is this still a Cup or Bust mentality? We also give Alex Newhook his season grade. While it was a step back, are we still behind the youngs...
Jun 13, 2023•33 min•Ep. 723
