Avs Mailbag: With Gabe Landeskog re-signed, does this spell the end of Philipp Grubauer in Colorado?

Denver Post sports writer Mike Chambers responds to questions successful the Avs Mailbag periodically during the regular play and offseason. Pose an Avalanche- oregon NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.

Hey Mike, tin you clarify the NHL rules connected the drafting of assemblage players? I saw that the Avs took an incoming DU freshman with 1 of their picks. As an incoming freshman, however does it work? How agelong does helium play successful assemblage earlier turning pro? Is determination a clip commitment/requirement connected that? For example, I cognize successful MLB drafts, if players determine the assemblage way they person to perpetrate 3 years to their assemblage programme earlier being draft-eligible and NFL and NBA person their respective “time retired of precocious school” rules earlier being draft-eligible. I was conscionable hoping you tin clarify however the NHL draught works for assemblage players being drafted?

— Douglas, Denver

Sure thing, Douglas. An NHL squad that selects a assemblage subordinate indispensable motion the subordinate wrong a twelvemonth aft helium leaves assemblage oregon successful August aft his elder year. Otherwise, the subordinate tin go a escaped cause — similar Will Butcher of the University of Denver did successful August 2017. Butcher, who turned down the Avs to motion with New Jersey, was drafted earlier his freshman play astatine DU.

What’s the concern with Phillip Grubauer?

— Zach, Parker

It appears that helium wants $6 cardinal oregon much annually and the Avs don’t person the money. They already person 2 $9 cardinal guys and Nathan MacKinnon is 2 years distant from that. Good accidental Grubauer signs elsewhere — peculiarly since the Avs came to presumption with Gabe Landeskog.

Do spot Landeskog going anyplace else? And tin we nail down Grubauer?

— Brennan Vogt, Parker

Please spot the above. Clearly, Landeskog is coming backmost to Colorado and the squad whitethorn person made him a precedence implicit Grubauer due to the fact that of leadership/locker country areas. The Avs mightiness deliberation they’ll beryllium OK having Jonas Johansson backmost up Pavel Francouz, with youngsters Adam Werner, Justus Annunen, Trent Minor and Hunter Miska besides available. Werner and Annunen are Avalanche draught picks and Annunen, 21, could beryllium the future.

I truly thought this was the twelvemonth the Avs were going to the Stanley Cup Finals. What happened?

— Christie, Aurora

Vegas happened. Costly turnovers. Sudden second-guessing and nonaccomplishment of confidence. And Vegas’ play disconnected the unreserved was deadly — utilizing the Avs’ marque amended than the Avs. Grubauer wasn’t himself successful Game 6, either.

Mike, Sam Girard had a coagulated regular season, but the playoffs, not truthful much. It seemed that conscionable similar past twelvemonth successful the Bubble against the Stars, his carnal stature was a liability arsenic this twelvemonth the Golden Knights bullied him astatine each opportunity. Maybe it would beryllium much advantageous to support Ryan Graves and instrumentality the accidental that Girard gets picked up by Seattle? Your thoughts?

— Dan Rish, Albuquerque, New Mexico 

I had those aforesaid thoughts, Dan, but Girard is conscionable 23 and his quality to determination the puck up crystal is special. Instead of trading Graves, possibly they could person moved Girard for much instrumentality — and besides destruct his $5 cardinal headdress hit. In the end, the Avs judge Girard is lone going to amended and, portion he’s ne'er going to person a large body, he’ll marque strides successful however helium defends successful beforehand of the net.

Hey Mike, what roster moves would you bash with the Avs going into adjacent year? We’re truthful adjacent to making it implicit the hump. We person the depth, we person the talent, it feels similar we conscionable request that X-factor benignant of subordinate to enactment america implicit the edge. Anyone retired determination you’d emotion to spot successful a Colorado uniform?

— Nick, Parker

Yes, Nick, I’d similar a feline similar Wayne Simmonds astatine guardant and a pugnacious shutdown D similar Zach Bogosian, a UFA. I deliberation the Avs deficiency a mates of pugnacious guys.

With different failed postseason run, what needs to alteration for this squad to get implicit the hump and marque it backmost to the finals?

— Terry, Denver

I deliberation the Avs request to get heavier, meaner — harder to play against successful the playoffs. They are hard to play against successful the regular play due to the fact that they’re a talented unreserved squad that puts opponents connected their heels. In the playoffs, you person to get mad-dog mean to triumph the Cup. I don’t deliberation they are mean enough.

What does the coaching/staffing unit deliberation they tin bash to springiness america the borderline adjacent twelvemonth erstwhile we had everything we needed to get ourselves to the Cup this twelvemonth but missed that opportunity?

— Michael Barger, Denver

Please spot the above, Michael. I deliberation they request to change their high-flying individuality by adding toughness.

Hey Mike, person you heard immoderate talks astir updating signifier and main arena facilities earlier the puck drops adjacent season?

— Alex, Broomfield

No, sir. I judge the Avs signed a multi-year woody with South Suburban Family Sports Center past year, oregon the twelvemonth before. They were antecedently connected a year-to-year deal. This taxable has been a blistery 1 for a agelong clip — a very, precise agelong time. The installation is sub-standard for the NHL.