Avalanche: Looks like all that sucking wasn’t for Seth after all
“Colorado has been woeful on defense for as long as anybody can remember. This makes it particularly difficult to understand why the Avalanche would eschew the selection of Seth Jones in favor of a forward.”
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Over the course of the dismal 2012/2013 Colorado Avalanche campaign the common refrain among fans became “suck for Seth”. This referred to young defenseman Seth Jones, the son of former Denver Nugget Popeye Jones who had been encouraged at an early age to get into hockey by none other than Joe Sakic, then a player for the Avs and now the team’s GM.
Folks have been anticipating the selection of Jones by the Avalanche ever since they acquired to first pick in the upcoming rookie draft via the NHL draft lottery held weeks ago. The selection of Jones has been expected to be among the fine moments in team history. People just cannot wait to welcome the youngster back to Denver.
But a funny thing is happening on the way to the draft. Joe Sakic seems to be preparing folks for the eventuality of seeing the Avalanche choose somebody other than Seth Jones. Specifically, the club is eying sharp shooters Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin and Alexander Barkov, according to the Denver Post. These forwards, says Sakic, are “too good to pass up”, even though the Avalanche are already stacked at the position – stacked to the extent that one or more of their current forwards will probably be moved out of town. It might even be Paul Statsny, a fan favorite with ties to the University of Denver.
Colorado has been woeful on defense for as long as anybody can remember. This makes it particularly difficult to understand why the Avalanche would eschew the selection of Seth Jones in favor of a forward. Beyond the team’s immediate need for defense, though, is the team’s need to win its fans back. The “can”, as hockeyphiles call Pepsi Center, has been well beyond half-empty for most home games of late and a guy like Seth Jones offers massive fan appeal.
As long as Avalanche supporters have pined for Seth Jones, for Sakic to go in another direction with his coveted first pick would be pretty shocking, even if it’s the right thing to do. Defensemen, it is said, are risky propositions early in the draft. Jones is also an unfinished prospect with some potential downside. Still, he is somebody that Colorado fans want to see wearing the burgundy and white. No matter how fantastic another player may be, a lot of people are going to be bummed out not to see him chosen on draft day…
Until they get a look at Nathan MacKinnon, who’s pretty awesome.
