Lately, I’ve been reminded of the time ⁢when Patrick ‌Roy moved Ryan O’Reilly to the wing about ten years ​ago, resulting‌ in a surge in the forward’s offensive performance. That season, O’Reilly scored 28 goals, which remains his highest mark to this day.

Roy made this move‍ due to the Avalanche’s strong roster at center, ‌featuring a prime Paul Stastny, a⁣ key Matt Duchene, and‍ the recently drafted Nathan MacKinnon, the first overall pick. By the ‍end of the season, all four centers were playing in the top six, leading to O’Reilly’s⁢ transition to the wing. However, it was clear that this ​arrangement wouldn’t last. O’Reilly ​has always been an elite two-way center in the NHL, and while⁤ he can perform well on ⁤the wing, his true value ​is in‍ the center position. Just look ‍at the‍ success he had with the St. Louis Blues in the 2018-19 season.

Currently, the Avalanche find⁢ themselves in a comparable situation, but it’s not due to an excess of centers—it’s the lack of​ top-six wingers. Early in the season, Ross Colton was moved to the wing and has continued in that role. Recently, he has been playing ⁢on the top line with Mikko Rantanen and MacKinnon. This position⁤ is familiar ⁢for him,⁤ having played it in Tampa Bay.⁤ However, since Colorado acquired him, head coach Jared Bednar has⁣ instead positioned him at center to fill in for J.T. Compher.

After observing Colton over the⁢ past few games on the wing, I⁤ can’t help but wonder if the Avalanche have found a hidden gem.

This isn’t to dismiss his capabilities as a center. As ⁢a 3C behind Casey Mittelstadt and MacKinnon, he doesn’t have the ‌same impact in the middle, especially considering his $4 million ⁤salary on a cap-constrained⁣ team. If he were Colorado’s No. 2 center, it would make sense to keep him in that role and ​utilize him on the wing only when needed. However, as the 3C, I would prefer to see him playing ⁤on⁤ the wing.

There are numerous aspects‌ of his game that appear⁢ to shine when he’s on the wing and alongside star players. Even though Colton trails⁣ former teammate Nikita Kucherov by one goal for the NHL lead, it’s not solely ‍his offensive numbers that stand out. His overall play is what catches the eye—the forechecking, the physical battles in the corners, and his ability⁢ to ‍showcase his speed without ​the responsibilities of ​a centerman. Bednar elaborated on this after a recent ⁢victory against Anaheim, and it merits a closer look.

“Colton’s​ strength as a winger comes from his ability to skate, move, and maintain momentum,” Bednar explained. “He’s an excellent forechecker and has ‍physicality, which allows him to pursue the puck more aggressively. When you’re transitioning from goal line to goal ⁢line, if you’re ⁣constantly going back to support our defense, you find yourself stuck in battles. In that case, it’s the wingers who get to move and skate ahead. You have to adjust to keep up with ⁤them. Typically,⁢ you’d ‌want him ​in an F1‌ or F2 position to hunt the​ puck and create scoring opportunities.”

Moving Colton ⁢to the wing leaves the⁢ Avalanche somewhat vulnerable at center, and I’m uncertain about‌ having Parker Kelly on the third line as the playoffs approach. However, if general manager Chris MacFarland can add some depth at the trade deadline and is ⁢unable to recover all of his injured wingers, ⁢playing Colton⁢ on the wing might be their best strategy.

With a completely healthy lineup, the eight wingers would probably consist of Mikko Rantanen, Valeri Nichushkin, ⁤Artturi Lehkonen, Jonathan Drouin, Gabriel Landeskog, Nikolai Kovalenko, Logan O’Connor, and Miles Wood. Yet, if even one of these players is unavailable, ‍I would much prefer to see Colton on the wing accompanied by a depth center in the 3C position, ‍even if it’s a player akin to ‍Yakov Trenin.

This is ⁣certainly something to watch as we approach the trade deadline. For now, let’s enjoy the⁢ impressive goal-scoring streak No. 20 has displayed in recent games.

John Ludvig

This offseason, there was extensive discussion about the trio of defensemen ⁣the Avalanche signed⁣ after July 1. Whether it was Calvin de Haan, Erik Brannstrom, or Oliver Kylington, there was much debate regarding who would have the most significant impact and likely join Sam Malinski on the third pairing when everyone was healthy.

Now, as we’re ‍less than two weeks into the regular season, the answer might surprisingly‍ be none ⁢of them. John Ludvig has emerged as a pleasant ⁣surprise since being claimed off waivers. It reminds me of‍ when Colorado picked up Patrik Nemeth years⁢ ago, ⁤who turned into a valuable depth player after being waived.

If Devon Toews returns on Tuesday, I‍ would advocate for⁢ Ludvig to stay in the lineup and de Haan to sit alongside Kylington in the press box. I’m curious if Bednar shares this view. Ludvig has performed admirably paired with Josh Manson, even contributing an⁢ assist on Sunday ⁣to further impress.