Notebook: Have the Avalanche Unlocked a Secret Weapon?

I’m reminded lately of when Patrick Roy shifted Ryan O’Reilly to the wing a decade ago and how the forward’s offensive numbers took off. That 28-goal season is still O’Reilly’s career-high all these years later.

Roy did it because the Avs were loaded at center. They still had Paul Stastny in his prime, Matt Duchene was a big part of the team, and they had just drafted Nathan MacKinnon No. 1 overall. All four of them needed to play in the top six, which by the end of the season was the case. And O’Reilly was moved to the wing. But you knew it wasn’t going to last. O’Reilly was and still remains one of the best two-way centers in the NHL. And as effective as he could be on the wing, he’s a far more valuable piece up the middle. Just ask the 2018-19 St. Louis Blues.

The Avs are in a similar situation now but it’s not because they have an abundance of centers — they’re just missing way too many top-six wingers. Ross Colton was shifted to the wing early in the season and has remained there. In the past handful of games, he’s lined up on the top line alongside Mikko Rantanen and MacKinnon. It’s a position he’s familiar with and where he played in Tampa Bay. But ever since Colorado acquired him, head coach Jared Bednar instead moved him to center to replace J.T. Compher up the middle.

But after watching the last few games of Colton on the wing, I genuinely ask, have the Avalanche unlocked a secret weapon?

I’m not necessarily downplaying his effectiveness at center. But as the 3C center behind Casey Mittelstadt and MacKinnon, he’s not quite as effective in the middle, especially not for $4 million on a cap-strapped team. If he was Colorado’s No. 2 center, then sure, keep him there and use him on the wing only as needed. But as the 3C, I’d much rather see him on the wing.

There are so many things that seem to be unlocked in his game when he’s on the wing and playing with the stars. Even with Colton being a goal behind former teammate Nikita Kucherov for the most in the NHL, it’s not just the offensive production that sticks out in recent games. It’s the way he plays. It’s the forechecking, the mucking and grinding in the corners, and the added ability to show off his speed when he’s not handling centerman responsibilities. This was something Bednar broke down quite well following the victory against Anaheim late last week. And it’s worthy of a refresher.

“Part of Colton’s game, which makes him really good as a winger, is he likes to skate and move and keep a little momentum,” Bednar said. “He’s a terrific forechecker, physical, like he can get on the hunt more. When you play goal line to goal line, if you have to go back and help our D all the time and you’re stopped down there in the battles, it’s the wingers that are taking off and doing that skating. And you gotta work to try and keep up with them. And then you’re often f3 in the offensive zone. Well, part of his strength is being f1 or f2 and hunting the puck down and checking it back.”

Shifting Colton to the wing makes the Avs thin at center and I’m not sure I’d want Parker Kelly on the third line going into the playoffs. But if general manager Chris MacFarland can find some depth at the deadline and doesn’t get all of his injured wingers back, then Colton playing on the wing is their best option.

With a fully healthy lineup, your eight wingers are probably Mikko Rantanen, Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen, Jonathan Drouin, Gabriel Landeskog, Nikolai Kovalenko, Logan O’Connor, and Miles Wood. But if even one of those guys isn’t healthy, I’d much rather see Colton on the wing and a depth center at 3C. Even if it’s someone similar to Yakov Trenin.

Just something to keep an eye on as we inch closer to the trade deadline. And for now, let’s sit back and enjoy the goal-scoring machine No. 20 has become in recent games.

The entire offseason was filled with chatter regarding the three defensemen the Avs signed after July 1. Whether it was Calvin de Haan, Erik Brannstrom, or Oliver Kylington, we all debated which of the three would have the biggest impact and likely play on the third pair with Sam Malinski when everyone is healthy.

We’re less than two weeks into the regular season, and the answer might be none of them. John Ludvig has been a pleasant surprise since he was claimed off waivers. And it kind of reminds me of when Colorado picked up Patrik Nemeth all those years ago and he became a good depth piece coming off the waiver wire.

If Devon Toews returns on Tuesday, I’d cast my vote for Ludvig to remain in the lineup and for de Haan to join Kylington in the press box. I’m just curious if Bednar sees it the same way. Ludvig has looked great lining up with Josh Manson and even added an assist on Sunday for good measure.