Barry Melrose believes Avs defensemen can match the Sharks
May 1, 2019, 6:57 PM | Updated: 6:57 pm
On the heels of a 4-2 loss in Game 3 of the Western Conference Second Round, plenty were trying to find someone to blame for the Avalanche falling to the Sharks at Pepsi Center. And given that their head coach cited some “boneheaded plays” with the puck, which included some critical turnovers in Colorado’s zone, many were pointing the finger at the Avs defensemen – specifically their younger players – as the reason why the team squandered the home-ice advantage they earned with a Game 2 win in San Jose.
While that may technically be accurate, it can be dangerous to clamp down too hard on Sam Girard, Nikita Zadorov and Cale Makar. Being too conservative can negate the many positives that trio also brings to the ice.
At least that’s what long-time NHL commentator Barry Melrose thinks. During an interview on 104.3 The Fan’s “Schlereth and Evans” show on Wednesday, ESPN’s go-to hockey analyst tempered the notion that the Avalanche’s young defensemen should be reigned in.
“Those young defensemen will make mistakes because they’re trying to do things with the puck. They’ll jump into the play. You don’t want to take that away from them,” Melrose said when asked about Colorado’s defensive unit. “Anybody can go out there and run into people. What the Avs have is offensive defensemen who are great skaters, who can also compete defensively. You don’t want to take that skill set – that creativity and imagination – away from them because they’re hard to find.”
Melrose went on to preach patience with Girard, Zadorov, Makar and Company.
“The Avs are sitting with some elite young defensemen that are only going to get better in time,” he added.
Of course, that’s easier said than done in the playoffs, when time is of the essence. It’s also hard to do when the opposing team in a series boasts two-way defensemen who have already endured the growing pains.
Melrose used San Jose’s Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson as examples of what Colorado young players can become.
“There are only a few guys who are elite offensive defensemen and also defensive defensemen,” he explained. “Those guys are very rare. They win the Norris Trophy.”
Burns won the NHL’s award for the “defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position” in 2016-17. Karlsson won it two years earlier.
The Sharks are already there when it comes to talented defensemen, but the Avs are well on their way.
“The sky’s the limit for the defense of the Avs,” Melrose proclaimed. “This is going to be one of the great defenses in the NHL. Give Maker half a year in the NHL, and everyone else gets to know each other and how they play, this will be a team no one likes to play against. I can guarantee you.”
That’s great news for down the road, as it means the future is bright in Colorado. But for the here and now, with the Avs facing a 2-1 deficit to the Sharks, that’s less comforting.
If the Avalanche are going to get back into the series, they need to demonstrate the kind of ability that Melrose believes they possess. They need the future to start now.
For more with Barry Melrose, catch The Fan’s Avalanche Insider at the following times on FM 104.3:
8:15 a.m. – The morning after every Avs game
2:00 p.m. – Days in between every Avs game
3:45 p.m. – The day of every Avs game
