The bandwagoner’s guide to rooting for the Avs in the SCF

If you're a newcomer to the Avalanche fan base, that's totally fine; just make sure you're ready to drop a little knowledge at the watch party

BY JAMES MERILATT

Jun 15, 2022, 6:00 AM

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Let’s be honest. There are a lot of people who have been rooting for the Avalanche the last month or so who didn’t know the difference between a hat trick and the five hole when the NHL playoffs began. And now that Colorado has advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, there will be even more newcomers jumping on the team’s bandwagon.

That might offend diehard fans. But to everyone other than the curmudgeons, it’s totally acceptable.

The more, the merrier. That’ll just make the victory parade that much better.

That said, it’s always best to not show up at the party empty handed. Come prepared with a little bit of knowledge, some background info and few hot takes, just so it’s not readily apparent that the Avs sweater you are wearing still has the tags on it.

To help, here are a few things every passenger on the Avalanche bandwagon should be able to fire off in conversation at the bar, the office or a watch party:

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Know a Little History

The Avalanche relocated to Denver in 1995, as they were formally the Quebec Nordiques. It didn’t take long for them to find success, as they won the Stanley Cup that first season, bringing the first-ever major professional sports championship to the Mile High City. Colorado repeated the feat five years later, hoisting the Cup again in 2001.

The first title came after the Avs made a midseason trade for Patrick Roy. Arguably the greatest goalie in NHL history, he became a central figure in the team’s early success.

The second championship was a feel-good story because of Ray Bourque. After 20 years in Boston without winning it all, the Hall of Fame defenseman came to Colorado and hoisted the Cup after his second season in burgundy and blue.

Those early teams were littered with great players. All six of the team’s retired numbers were worn by key members of those two title winners. That includes Roy, Bourque, Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Milan Hejduk and Adam Foote.

That’s a big reason why the Avalanche won their division during their first eight seasons in Denver. They also made the playoffs in each of their first 10 years in Colorado.

And the fans showed their support. From 1995-2006, the team sold out 487 consecutive home games, setting an NHL record that still stands.

What to say: “I was originally bummed when the Avs moved to town. I loved going to the Denver Grizzlies games at Big Mac. But those first few seasons were the heyday of Colorado sports.”

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Know How the Team was Built

After all of their early success, the Avalanche had some lean years. While it was painful on the ice, it did provide them with a lot of high draft picks. Those selections have turned into the team’s current core.

Gabriel Landeskog was the No. 2 overall pick in 2011. Nathan MacKinnon was selected No. 1 two years later. Mikko Rantanen was picked 10th in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Cale Makar was taken No. 4 overall two years later. And Bowen Byram was the fourth pick in 2019.

Sakic, now the team’s general manager, has done a great job filling in veteran pieces around those young stars. He traded for Devon Toews, Nazem Kadri and Darcy Kuemper in previous seasons, as well as Artturi Lehkonen and Josh Manson this year at the deadline. He also signed Valeri Nichushkin as a free agent.

Perhaps his boldest move, however, was sticking with Jared Bednar. The Avs plucked the head coach from the Lake Erie Monsters when Roy resigned just before the start of the 2016-17 season. After a rough start, as well as some playoff disappointments, the team’s faith in Bednar has finally paid off.

What to say: “Super Joe has pushed all the right buttons. If he doesn’t win the Gregory, they should do away with the award.”

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Know the Big Storylines

Who should the Avalanche start in goal? It doesn’t really matter, as there’s no correct answer. But given that both Kuemper and Pavel Francouz have each won six games thus far in the postseason, this is a hot topic of conversation.

Kuemper was the starter all season. He’s the more experienced veteran. He’s the netminder Sakic brought in as an upgrade over Philipp Grubauer. If he’s healthy, which is still a question after he took a stick to the eye in round one against Nashville, an argument can be made that he should be in net.

Francouz is a career backup, but he’s come up big in the playoffs. He was on the ice for all four of Colorado’s win in the Western Conference Final. He replaced Kuemper in Game 1 and held on for a win. He shut out the powerful Oilers in Game 2 and held them to just two goals the next time out. In the decisive game, he did surrender five goals, but Francouz still got the win. He’s 6-0 in the postseason.

What to say: “Frankie has won six straight. I’d ride the hot goalie. But if Bedzie trusts Darcy, I can get on board with that decision.”

The other big story is Kadri. The team’s main instigator, the center was sidelined with a thumb injury in the Edmonton series. He took a cheap shot from Evander Kane in Game 3, which earned the Oilers star a suspension, and reportedly had surgery to repair the damage.

But, this is hockey. The players are wired differently. So there’s still a chance that Kadri will play against the Lightning. The Avalanche could certainly use his presence, as he was third on the team in points during the regular season with 87, racking up 28 goals and 59 assists.

Kadri is also invaluable on the power play. Colorado has the depth to withstand his absence, but there’s no doubt that they’re a better team with him on the ice.

What to say: “Kadri has already made amends for last season. He’s already shown he’s a different player than he was in Toronto. I’m tired of hearing about his bad rep!”

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Know the Concerns

The Avalanche are arguably the best team in the NHL. Even though they didn’t win the Presidents’ Trophy, which they did capture last season, most people consider them the class of the league. Heck, even Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos called them that when his team won the Eastern Conference Final.

But that doesn’t mean the final four steps to the Stanley Cup will be easy. Far from it.

The Lightning are back-to-back defending champions. They’re trying to become the first team to win three-straight titles since the New York Islanders in the early 1980s.

Yes, their first Cup was won in the bubble. And last season’s title came in a season that wasn’t completely “normal,” but they still have championship mettle. They know how to amass 16 wins en route to a parade. There’s something to be said for that fact.

What to say: “You don’t win 44 playoff games in the last three postseasons by accident. The Lightning are a scary bunch.”

Tampa Bay also boasts the league’s best goaltender. During his seven seasons in the NHL, Andrei Vasilevskiy has been a four-time All-Star, won the Stanley Cup twice, earned Vezina Trophy honors and been named a Conn Smythe winner.

That’s an impressive resume. It’s why Vasilevskiy is the third-highest-paid goaltender in the NHL at $9.5 million.

He good enough to carry his team to wins. And he’s unbelievably clutch, having turned in big performance after big performance during the last three playoff runs for the Lightning.

Vasilevskiy is head and shoulders better than Kuemper or Francouz. It’s arguably the only spot where the Lightning are better than the Avalanche. But it’s one of the most-important positions in all of sports, as a goaltender can tilt the scales from the better team to the lesser one with great play.

What to say: “If Big Cat stands on his head four times, the Lightning can win the Cup again. He’s the one guy in the league capable of it.”

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Know the Opposition

While Vasilevskiy is the star of the Lightning, he’s far from the only great player that Jon Cooper has at his disposal. Tampa Bay’s roster is littered with talent.

Stamkos racked up 106 points during the regular season. That’s the highest total of his 14-year NHL career. The 31-year-old center has only played for the Lightning, making him legend in Tampa.

Nikita Kucherov is a four-time All-Star and a former Hart Trophy winner. In 2018-19, the forward scored 41 goals and posted 87 assists, amassing 128 total points en route to the NHL’s MVP. In the postseason, he’s Tampa Bay’s leading scorer with 23 points.

Victor Hedman is the Lightning’s version of Makar. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy during the team’s first Cup run and earned the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman in 2017-18. He’s a finalist for the Norris again this season, the fifth-straight season he’s been in that group.

What to say: “I love the Avs roster, but the Lightning boast more hardware.”

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There you have it. You’re ready for any gathering. You can drop some hockey knowledge and look like you’ve been a fan for decades.

You haven’t been able to watch the team for three seasons. It’s understandable that you’ve fallen behind. That’s why we’re here to help.

Enjoy the Stanley Cup Final. It’s a once-in-a-generation experience.

Welcome to the bandwagon!

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