The Avalanche, like each of the 24 teams in the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs, can officially open training camp Monday. Colorado will do so in a fan-free bubble environment at the Pepsi Center and players will be tested daily for COVID-19. Here are five questions about the Avs as they prepare for their third consecutive playoff appearance:
What’s the camp roster size?
Each team can have 30 skaters and an unlimited amount of goalies. The Avs revealed their roster Sunday night, and it features 30 skaters and four goalies. The list includes defenseman Bo Byram, 19, the club’s 2019 first-round draft pick (fourth overall), and fellow young defensemen Conor Timmins.
What’s the health of the team and what are the key position battles?
The Avs, who were a beat-up bunch when the NHL suspended the season March 12, should be close to 100 percent — although forward Colin Wilson is still out and not on the camp roster. Wilson has played in just nine games this season. The main position battles will be at forward, with 2016 first-round draft pick Tyson Jost likely looking in from the outside as the 13th forward.
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What might the lineup look like with forwards and defensemen if games started today?
Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon might again start training camp with MGM Line wingers Gabe Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. There’s a good chance second-line center Nazem Kadri will play with Andre Burakovsky and Joonas Donskoi. The third line might feature wingers Vladislav Namestnikov and Valeri Nichushkin with center J.T. Compher. And the likely fourth line will be Pierre-Edouard Bellemare with Matt Nieto and Matt Calvert. The pairings of the six defensemen are easy to predict if each is healthy: Ryan Graves-Cale Makar, Sam Girard-Erik Johnson, Nikita Zadorov-Ian Cole.
What goalie is No. 1 on the depth chart right now?
That chart probably doesn’t exist. Both Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz are capable puck-stoppers and each will likely get a start when the three-game round-robin games begin Aug. 2. The starter to begin the traditional 16-team, best-of-seven first round on Aug. 10 will be determined at that point.
What happens if a player tests positive for COVID-19?
That player will be ordered to self-isolate while taking daily tests. If he has four consecutive negative tests, he may rejoin the team.
Avalanche training camp schedule
Monday
Group 1 on ice: 9:30 a.m.
Group 2 on ice: 11:15 a.m.
Tuesday
Group 1 on ice: 9:30 a.m.
Group 2 on ice: 11:15 a.m.
Wednesday
Group 1 on ice: 10:30 a.m.
Group 2 on ice: 12:30 p.m.
Thursday
Practice: 10:30 a.m.
Future training camp sessions will be announced at a later date.
Avs training camp roster
FORWARDS
No.
Name
Pos
Ht.
Wt.
41
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
C
6-0
198
14
Shane Bowers
C
6-2
186
95
Andre Burakovsky
LW
6-3
201
11
Matt Calvert
LW
5-11
186
37
J.T. Compher
LW
6-0
190
72
Joonas Donskoi
RW
6-0
190
15
Sheldon Dries
C
5-9
180
17
Tyson Jost
C
5-11
187
91
Nazem Kadri
C
6-0
192
81
Vladislav Kamenev
C
6-2
194
92
Gabriel Landeskog
LW
6-1
215
29
Nathan MacKinnon
C
6-0
200
90
Vladislav Namestnikov
C
6-0
183
83
Matt Nieto
LW
5-11
185
25
Logan O’Connor
RW
6-0
175
96
Mikko Rantanen
RW
6-4
215
36
T.J. Tynan
C
5-8
165
13
Valeri Nichushkin
RW
6-4
210
DEFENSEMEN
44
Mark Barberio
D
6-1
200
45
Bowen Byram
D
6-1
190
28
Ian Cole
D
6-1
225
7
Kevin Connauton
D
6-2
205
49
Samuel Girard
D
5-10
170
27
Ryan Graves
D
6-5
220
6
Erik Johnson
D
6-4
225
54
Anton Lindholm
D
5-11
191
8
Cale Makar
D
5-11
187
34
Jacob MacDonald
D
6-0
204
20
Conor Timmins
D
6-2
185
16
Nikita Zadorov
D
6-6
235
GOALTENDERS
39
Pavel Francouz
G
6-0
179
31
Philipp Grubauer
G
6-1
188
35
Michael Hutchinson
G
6-3
198
30
Adam Werner
G
6-5
205
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