Annual roster turnover is just part of the deal in the American Hockey League, but several of the new guys who are expected to lead the way for the Colorado Eagles have something in common: They’ve played here before.
While remaking the organization’s depth, the Colorado Avalanche found a bunch of guys who were happy to be back in the Centennial State.
“Five years ago I was here and I loved it. My wife loved it,” defenseman Calle Rosen said. “I didn’t really have too much to think about. It’s a great organization that wants to win in both the AHL and the NHL. I thought it was a good opportunity for me and that’s why I’m here.
“I didn’t really want to leave the first time around, so I’m super happy to be back. We’ve got some familiar faces, which definitely helps.”
Rosen is joined by defenseman Jacob MacDonald and forwards T.J. Tynan and Jayson Megna in the reunion party. That quartet is in camp with the Avalanche and still chasing NHL dreams, but they are most likely to be front-line, big-minute guys for the Eagles when the season begins.
All four are between 30 and 34 years old, with more than 450 NHL games combined between them. MacDonald and Megna have both been a captain for the Eagles. Tynan has the fewest NHL games of the bunch, but he’s also a two-time AHL MVP and had more assists for Ontario than anyone on the Eagles had points.
NHL teams sign several players to two-way contracts every season, and they can go largely unnoticed by fans who aren’t following the AHL club. There are a few reasons why signing some of the best players who fit into this situation — probably not full-time NHLers, but high-level AHL guys — can benefit the Avalanche, both in the short- and long-term.
It helps ensure the Eagles will be a competitive team, which is clearly a goal for the organization considering the consistency of success in Loveland. They have made the Calder Cup Playoffs in all five years there was an AHL postseason since moving up from the ECHL and becoming the Avalanche’s affiliate.
“I’ve been here and I’ve got all the respect in the world for everyone in this organization,” Tynan said. “From top to bottom, I know what they’re all about. They want to win, no matter what level. I’m very competitive, and that was the biggest thing for me. I know no matter where you are, every day they’re trying to get better, and every day they’re trying to win. So that was big.”
NHL teams have different ideas about how to best develop prospects in the AHL, but having a good team does get those young players chances to play in high-leverage situations. The Calder Cup Playoffs are closer to NHL game speed and intensity than average AHL contests.
Then there is the veteran mentorship for players like Sean Behrens and Oskar Olausson.
“You want to have kids that are knocking at the door, prospects that you have that you’ve drafted, that are developing down there,” Jared Bednar said. “And you want them developing at a high rate. Well, my opinion is, they’re not going to develop at a high rate playing with each other. So playing with guys like T.J. Tynan, having high-end American League skill, pro skill that knows what it takes, not only to get here but how he can help those young guys continue to play their game I think is a big add.”
Having players like this quartet can also give Bednar peace of mind when the NHL club has injury issues. When the Avs need to recall someone for a short-term fill-in, they now have multiple options on both defense and up front who are NHL-tested.
It doesn’t appear likely any of the four veterans are going to win a job outright in camp, but the Avs might be a little more desperate for points early in this season given the big names that will be missing. They might be more likely to go with one of these veterans for a game or two instead of a younger player.
“You want some of those young guys knocking on the door so you have options to call them up and take a look at them and check on their development,” Bednar said. “But you also want other guys that we know they’re ready and can come up for a game or two and jump into our lineup and possibly help us win.
“So it’s a good mix of guys down there.”
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