Both Val and Lehky are the X-Factors IMO. Top line will always be rolling and when those guys hit their peak playoff mode, Avs are such a tough team to play against. Sprinkle in playoff Cale and whammo.
Bringing in Mittlestadt and Walker have really made a huge impact. If this team continues to roll they will be a force to be reckoned with. Lecky is clutch and his chemistry with Val is impressive. Go Avs Go!
I’m a Manitoban and I gotta say that guy is one hell of a hockey player. The Avs have a sixth gear that the Jets couldn’t match. The way they dominated our team leads me to believe the Colorado Avalanche are going to win the Stanley Cup.
Nuke has worked so hard on his game since he came to Colorado. I can still remember how people hated on him for his "stone hands". Now he can score in every way imaginable. Relentless on the puck, getting to the right places... He's become a complete player (Landy lite?)
In round 1 he is absolutely the mvp. But very closely followed by Arturi Lehkonen. It's good to have him back with his head clear. I hope he keeps it up!
We also need to note the role Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantenan take to help elevate these guys. If they don't focus on making things happen, then they don't happen. But Lehky and big Val make it happen at both ends and it shows. What amazing talent the Avs have this season.
Great video my friend! I think only time will tell if he can keep this momentum (which I hope he does). He really proved to everyone in the Winnipeg series that he can have HUGE impact. Love this video and I hope we win the cup this year. We are looking so so SO good!
The whole lineup is capable of MVP. It starts with the defense and the quick break out. When you have guys like Makar, Toews, Girard all exceptional skaters and puck moving d men it makes it easy for forwards like Mac, Moose, Lecky, Val, Drouin etc to execute their skill, speed and ability to make big plays. The Avs are a scary team this playoff season and seem to only look better every game.
God damn we got some talent this year!!!! And most of the top is locked in. I still believe we find a way to keep Drouin. If he’d take 4-5m I think we find a way. In the open market? Well he’s only getting better. Might lock a 6-7m deal… Val is one of my favorite players. Has been ever sense he joined the team. He’s just gotten better every 20-30 games. Slowly but surely finding a top roll on the team. He and lehky are irreplaceable imo. And lehky only making 4.5m yr. He’s so damn insane this time of year. He’s worth twice that in the playoffs. Not sure why he’s so damn good now but I won’t complain.. just looked up PO stats sense joining Avs. Hes a ppg player. And is scoring 20-25% of his shots. Insane
I was a little mad that he asked for such a high contract after only one good season, thinking he would revert back to his production in the past. But he's just gotten better and better, to the point that contract looks like a bargain now
The stats don't lie. Nuke makes the Avs better across the board. When he's not in the lineup, they do not do well. It doesn't matter if he scores or not. His presence on the ice makes the team better, period. IMO, he's a top-five player on the Avs.
It's night and day when he plays. 15-10-3 without him....35-15-4 with. As good as the lineup is, that x-facor is Nuke (and Lehky). Last season it was even more pronounced as they had a losing record when he missed games (12-16-1).
The answer is no. Mac is still their best player and everything revolves around him - including all attention given by the opposing team. Val just benefits from being on the best line, period.
Two things: 1. Who would you rather see the Av’s play. Vegas or Dallas? We would have home ice against Vegas. 2. We need a much better nickname for Nichuskin(misspelled). The Cho Cho train? He is not a four year old. It’s hockey so maybe something bloody like “The Choskinator.” Something?
If rather see Dallas. I think Vegas’s physical play would hurt us pretty bad. I’d also agree that Val’s nickname is not the greatest. Not really sure what to go with tho
WE like it just fine hes the choo choo train cause he chugs along every game and is a steam engine , if u dont like it fu ck off it aint changing ,and yea we would want vegas for home ice and they have to fly right into the altitude and we can wear em down quick .
