Colorado Avalanche Blogger Roundtable Day 5

It’s the halfway point, day 5 of the 3rd Annual Colorado Avalanche Blogger Roundtable! Don’t forget to check out today’s other question, “What is one 2009 offseason executive decision you thought was genius and one executive decision that you thought was horrible” hosted by Brian Thompson at the Colorado Avalanche Examiner.

Today’s question is:

“Is there a core set of players on the team RIGHT NOW that, if they hit their realistic potentials, could lead this team to a legitimate cup run?”

Sean - Anyone But Detroit

We’re getting there but we’re not there yet. Assuming that Matt “The Boy Wonder” Duchene counts as “on the team RIGHT NOW”, I still see two major holes.

First in goal – Anderson is certainly an upgrade, but we don’t even know if he is a legitimate starter in the league, let alone if he can play at a “legitimate Cup run” level. In my book, that means he can stand on his head for a period or two in a road playoff game where the Avs are getting outshot 35 – 10 and give his team a chance to steal the game.

The second hole is a lack of true superstars – we need at least one more true impact player, preferably on defense. I’m talking a player that is clearly among the top players in the NHL in 3 or 4 years. My hope is that Shattenkirk can fit this bill when his starts his pro career next season, but it’s probably more than likely that we draft this player at the top of the first round the 2010 Entry Draft.

Magnum - Disgruntled Avalanche Blogger

Certainly. The Avalanche do have a great group of young players, but that's not to say everything is perfect, though. The depth at winger is quite shallow, as is the depth at goaltending. Maybe we could see a guy like Stoa become a career first liner, or Cann emerge as a starting goalie, but I don't think anyone is holding their breath.

I think the "core" is pretty close to set. You've got three good young centers (Stastny, Duchene, O'Reilly), and several defensemen who could potentially fill top 4 roles (Shattenkirk, Cohen, Gaunce, Elliot, Holos).

Shane - Avs Talk

Not in my mind. There are a lot of players I'm really excited for but I don't see the Avalanche having the necessary pieces to take a run at a playoff spot, let alone the Cup. Of course, when you look at any of the Cinderella stories that won Cups, nobody predicted they would have a snowball's chance in Phoenix. And that's what makes for a Cinderella run!

Would I like to see it? Hell yes. Do I believe they can do it? No. Unless our new GM Greg Sherman turns out to be an absolute genius. But what are the odds of that?

Brian - Colorado Avalanche Examiner

Three players will be key to a Cup run in the near future. Paul Stastny, Chris Stewart, and Matt Duchene are the painfully young nucleus of what could be a Stanley Cup caliber offensive unit.

David - Mile High Hockey

I think the Avalanche have a good bunch of young players, but not quite a potential Cup squad. Realistically, the Avalanche need either a couple more lottery picks or some fortuitous development bumps from a few prospects before we can start thinking about a future with Lord Stanley.

Jay - Avs Hockey Podcast

I look up and down this roster and wonder, if the timing was right in everyone's career, if a cup run would ever be in order. The combination of Hejduk and Foote well into the later part of their careers, question marks with Liles, Wolski, David Jones, Stewart, and Cody McLeod, and the excitement of the eventual future stars of Stastny, Duchene, and Shattenkirk just don't add up to going deep into the playoffs right now (especially with Shattenkirk still at BU.) And a HUGE hole (pun intended I guess), that young goaltender coming up through the system to lead this team to the promise land. I just don't see it happening for a while. Buckle up Avs fans.