Colorado Avalanche

When Patrick Roy arrived in Denver shortly before Christmas 1995, Colorado Avalanche fans knew they’d landed an elite goaltender who could validate their relocated team’s contender status. And when Joe Sakic lifted the Stanley Cup a few months later, Roy’s impact was confirmed.

The Hall of Fame goalie officially morphed into a rookie NHL coach on Wednesday night, and the vibe he created has already got people buzzing about Friday’s home-ice encore with Nashville.

With all due respect to Bruce Boudreau, it’s precisely the attitudinal kick-start needed for a franchise that’s not sniffed relevance since Roy last left the ice a decade ago.

Roy’s debut against Boudreau’s visiting Anaheim Ducks ended not only in a 6-1 win for the Avalanche, but also included a verbal dustup between the coaches that saw an enraged Roy deliver a pair of shoves to the glass partition that separated him from a clearly rattled adversary.

Whether or not the on-ice trigger for the skirmish—an apparent knee-on-knee hit to Colorado rookie Nathan MacKinnon from Anaheim’s Ben Lovejoy—was proportionate to Roy’s reaction is up for debate, particularly to Boudreau, who labeled his rival’s actions as “bush league” (via the Toronto Sun).

The league agreed, slapping Roy with a $10K fine while labeling his actions "irresponsible" (via USA Today) but what’s more valuable than his cash is the positive jolt Roy can give a team desperately seeking an identity.

After winning two Stanley Cups and reaching the conference finals in six of his eight years with a snow-surrounded "A" on his chest, the Avalanche have plummeted to insignificance with just three postseason series wins and five playoff misses in the subsequent nine seasons under three coaches.

Another ex-NHL player, Joe Sacco, was shown the door in April after four seasons, ushering in an era with the dual-titled Roy as coach and vice president of hockey operations, while former teammate Sakic was elevated to executive VP and given enhanced authority over hockey-related matters.

As it turns out, much of the springtime reaction to Roy’s hire from former teammates and rivals was prescient, particularly when laid alongside video of the ultrafiery coach from Wednesday night.

Roy, while admittedly rougher around the edges than some of his new coaching brethren, also brings valuable qualities to the bench-side gig that helped him reach best-in-the-world status as a player. Winger Alex Tanguay, who played with Roy for four seasons and was reacquired by the Avalanche in the offseason, told ESPN.com:

If you watch practice for an hour, he's everywhere. That's the way he is. I'm happy. I think what we've seen so far from him, he's very intense. He's very passionate about the game. Certainly his intensity and the work that he puts in, it's a good start for us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_HNGCLVvK4

With an impressionable roster that includes just six players who’ve celebrated a 30th birthday—and a dozen more who weren't born when Roy won the first of his three Conn Smythe trophies—getting such early lessons in the intangibles can’t help but be a good experience.

After all, having a young team with skill is one thing; they're a dime a dozen in today's NHL.

But having a young team with both skill and an intense taste for competition that filters down from the front office and locker room—via hands-on bosses who've won championships of their own—is an even better and far rarer thing.

And while Roy's unwillingness to play the stooge in scrums might be what rubs rivals like Boudreau the wrong way at first, it’s more likely that future opponents' concerns will stem from an inability to impede a franchise reinvention that may soon change dynamics in the Western Conference playoff race.

Watch your back, Predators coach Barry Trotz…you might be next.

The hockey buzz is back in Colorado, where the Colorado Avalanche are showing signs of becoming relevant again after three consecutive seasons without an appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the first hat trick of failure for the franchise since its arrival from Quebec in 1995.

The return of Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy as head coach, a decade after he retired as a player, is the reason apathy has turned into enthusiasm, along with the fact that another Denver icon, Hall of Fame center Joe Sakic, has been given the reins as executive president of hockey operations.

Roy, who backstopped the Avalanche to Stanley Cup championships in 1996 and 2001, is as popular as ever after a 10-year absence. How so? Even he was taken aback after being recognized by a customer during a recent visit to a Denver coffee shop.

"Hey, coach, how are you doing today?" Roy related. I was like, Oh, yeah, that's me. The people here are so great. Honestly, they make me feel so welcome and I appreciate that a lot.

I'm so happy to reconnect with them and have the same goal, seeing this team winning the Stanley Cup. This is the fun part, and I'm excited about that challenge.

Call this an experiment of sorts—a calculated gamble, really—since Roy, now 47, has no previous NHL coaching experience. But this hasn't stopped the Avalanche in the past.

Bob Hartley, who once worked in a windshield factory and never even played a game in the NHL, did some coaching in junior and minor league hockey before guiding a star-studded Avalanche team to a Stanley Cup championship in 2001.

Roy won't have that luxury in his first season behind the Avalanche bench; the team finished last in both the Northwest Division and Western Conference a year ago with a 16-25-7 record, and next -to-last in the overall standings. The team's fortunes have deteriorated to the point where it has had a top-three pick in three of the past five NHL drafts.

Qualifying for the playoffs was taken for granted during Roy's playing days, now it seems more like an unreachable goal. Yet, Roy isn't deterred. He has never backed down from a challenge, his relentless passion for winning has never waned and he certainly has the respect of his players.

"I've never been more excited about a season in my life," said fifth-year center Matt Duchene, who, as a child, hung posters of Roy and Sakic on his bedroom walls. "It's going to be cool, it's going to be special. We've learned how to lose, now we have to learn how to win."

Roy enjoyed plenty of success the past eight seasons as part owner, general manager and coach of the Quebec Remparts in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he won a Memorial Cup championship in 2006 and posted an overall record of 348-196.

He demanded excellence from himself and his teammates during an 18-season playing career with the Montreal Canadiens and Avalanche, and his fierce competitive nature burns as brightly as ever.

"I'm here to win," he said. "It's not an ego thing. In my years in Denver, we all put our egos aside, and I'm going to put my ego on the side."

Though he claims to have mellowed since putting away his goalie mask and pads—he had to exhibit patience while coaching teenagers in Quebec—Roy's fiery nature has surfaced during early Avalanche practice sessions; he'll halt a workout to bark at an individual player before gathering the troops for a group lesson.

"You don't want the player to feel he's the only one that does it wrong," said Roy, who is relishing his role as a hands-on coach and teacher. "You want the entire team to understand what we are looking for."

But even Roy isn't arrogant enough to predict a return to the playoffs while coaching a team laden with a stable of young, talented forwards, but one that needs vast improvement on defense and in goal.

"I know not too many experts put us in the playoffs," he said. One of his first priorities is to develop what he calls a "Stanley Cup attitude," to change what has been a losing culture for far too long.

"You can pretend you want to win, but there's a big difference between pretenders and the ones that will do what has to be done," Roy said. "I mean, a lot of people have question marks about our team. I like our team. We want to have a Stanley Cup attitude, and we're going to work hard on it."

It remains to be seen how Roy will react after difficult losses, which are certain to come, and his honeymoon with Avalanche fans won't last long if the one-ice product isn't more competitive and entertaining to watch than it's been in recent seasons.

All popularity aside, Roy is savvy enough to know that.

*Unless otherwise noted, all quotes in this story were obtained firsthand by the writer.

           

Do you think they understand how to develop young hockey players in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia?

For the second time in eight years, that small town produced the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft. This time, the Colorado Avalanche took advantage of that spot to select Nathan MacKinnon. In 2005, the Pittsburgh Penguins took Cole Harbour native Sidney Crosby.

If the selection of MacKinnon works out for the Avalanche half as well as the Crosby selection has worked for the Penguins, Colorado executive director of hockey operations Joe Sakic will be quite pleased.

The similarities don't stop with the hometown. MacKinnon went to Shattuck-St. Mary's (Minn.) High School, which arguably boasts the best high school hockey program in the United States.

Shattuck product MacKinnon follows in the footsteps of Crosby...played for Tom Ward who is a tremendous coach at SSM...needs an edge.

— ESPN NHL Draft Blog (@NHLDraftBlog) June 30, 2013

MacKinnon is coming off a huge season with Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League that allowed him to earn the No. 1 draft pick status. He scored 32 goals and 43 assists this year and finished with an amazing plus-40 rating. He also scored 13 points in four games in the Memorial Cup, and that showing probably allowed him to become the No. 1 selection overall.

While Crosby was a no-doubt top pick when he was selected in 2005, MacKinnon did not have the same kind of universal acclimation. That's not a slight against MacKinnon, since Crosby is probably the best all-around player in the NHL and one of the game's all-time greats.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txQiZ2-FQhg

MacKinnon has many special qualities, and some of them are reminiscent of Crosby. MacKinnon has overwhelming first-step quickness, and that allows him to create opportunities for himself and his teammates.

TSN analyst Craig Button says that the difference between MacKinnon and the other top prospects in the draft is that he has the skilled hands to take advantage of the opportunities that his speed brings him.

The Avalanche have failed to make the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. MacKinnon should have a great chance to make the team as the No. 1 overall draft pick, but he will not be asked to work miracles.

Colorado has several talented young players up front in Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan O'Reilly and Matt Duchene. If MacKinnon works out as a rookie, he could be the player who helps put them in the playoffs once again.

MacKinnon has had the benefit of working out with Crosby during recent summers. The two have a close relationship.

"Through the year we don’t talk a lot,” MacKinnon told Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star. “He texted me at the Memorial Cup. In the summer I see him more. I’m sure he’s having a little down time right now. When he starts training, I know it’s going to be intense. The guy doesn’t seem to get tired.”

As the years go by, the comparisons with Crosby will increase if MacKinnon proves himself to be a dominant NHL player. If he is not, their shared history of having come from the same hometown and high school will merely become a triviality.

But the two will always have a strong relationship. MacKinnon poked fun of that status after the Avs made him the No. 1 pick.

MacKinnon on Sidney Crosby, his favorite player & fellow Nova Scotian: "I don't know if I should dislike him now. I don't know."

— Sean Leahy (@Sean_Leahy) June 30, 2013

While that's not going to happen, MacKinnon's days of going to Crosby for advice are nearing an end. Crosby has made his name and reputation as one of the top players in the world. MacKinnon has followed Crosby's path to the NHL, but now, he must go off on his own and establish himself as one of the best players as well.

The Colorado Avalanche made good on the franchise's word and selected Halifax Mooseheads center Nathan MacKinnon No. 1 overall in the 2013 NHL draft.

MacKinnon is the most talented offensive forward in this year’s class—amassing 32 goals with 43 assists in 44 games this season as a member of the Mooseheads—but his talent goes beyond just an offensive touch.

At 6'0" and 182 pounds, he will need time to grow into his body and develop. MacKinnon is willing to mix it up in the defensive zone in order to protect his own net. The prospect’s high motor and tenacity will make learning the nuances of playing defense as a forward in the NHL something he picks up very quickly.

MacKinnon also boasts elite speed that could find him in the role of an aggressive forechecker or playmaker around the opposing netminder. Add in his incredible hand-eye coordination and the Canadian prospect is an NHL star in the making.

While some players lack control when they possess such speed, MacKinnon is as fluid on his skates as anyone in this class and will use that skating ability to maneuver around even the best defenders at the NHL level.

Despite being the No. 2 overall prospect—Portland defender Seth Jones was ranked No. 1 by NHL.com—the Avalanche had expressed their desire to select MacKinnon with the first pick throughout the draft process.

New head coach Patrick Roy told Craig Custance of ESPN before the draft that the team’s choice would be the Halifax center, and with the club following through on his word, Colorado fans have to be excited about the future direction of the franchise.

The Avalanche already have an impressive stable of young forwards and the addition of a potential star like MacKinnon could turn the tide for the franchise and re-instill a winning attitude.

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Player: Nathan MacKinnon

Drafted By: Colorado Avalanche (1st overall)

Position: Center

Final Central Scouting Ranking: No. 2 North American skater

Height/Weight: 6'0'', 200 lbs

DOB: September 1, 1995 (17 years old)

Most Recent Affiliation: QMJHL, Halifax Mooseheads

Background

Nathan MacKinnon is a prospect who has been dubbed “The Next One” by some because of the similarities he shares with Sidney Crosby. MacKinnon has had a ton of hype surrounding him since he became draft eligible, and he had a great 2012-13 season.

During the regular season, MacKinnon tallied 75 points in 44 games, and he heated up during the playoffs. The Halifax Mooseheads won the 2013 Memorial Cup as the CHL champions, and MacKinnon scored 13 points in four games, including a hat trick in the final game of the series.

There are a ton of reasons why MacKinnon has the potential to become one of the next top prospects in the NHL, and a primary reason is his all-around game.

Full Scouting Report

MacKinnon is 6’0”, 200 pounds, so he isn’t going to rely on using his body to be a force while on the ice. Instead, MacKinnon will use his hockey IQ, his slick hands and sneaky shot to be an offensive titan. The Cole Harbor native is also an elite skater, which enables him to transition from offense to defense, and vice versa, with relative ease.

MacKinnon is one of the smartest players in the draft, and that is evident with how he views the ice and makes plays. It did help that he had an elite winger named Jonathan Drouin on his line, but MacKinnon has the tools to make magic with almost any player who can skate.

MacKinnon is a fierce competitor, and Tampa Bay Lightning director of amateur scouting Al Murray had this to say about him before the draft:

He’s a pretty interesting guy. I think if you talk to him he says he’s more of a power forward who has skill, but to a lot of other people, he’s a highly-skilled forward who plays with a lot of power. It’s a nice combination to have. His skating is elite. He’s a durable guy and he’s been a terrific player and I really don’t know what more to say. He can play the game any way you want him to play it.

 

NHL Player Comparison

Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings. MacKinnon is a creative player who is skilled at making moves at a controlled pace with the puck. He is elusive and dynamic, and his game is very similar to Datsyuk’s.

NHL Timetable

MacKinnon has elite talent, and his conditioning and compete level will allow him to start his career when the 2013-14 season starts this fall.

Top-End Potential

At his top potential, MacKinnon is an elite first-line center who can top out at 85-90 points. In today’s NHL, only select players can hit the 100-point mark, so MacKinnon would still be in good company by registering 90 points.

His two-way offensive sense will allow him to maintain a near even ratio between goals and assists, but MacKinnon will make his living as an elite setup man. At the very least, MacKinnon will be an excellent second-line center, but either way, he should have decent longevity as an NHL star.

When the Colorado Avalanche robbed the Florida Panthers in the lottery for the first overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft, no one would have anticipated them trading it away.

In such a deep draft class with multiple players that a franchise can build around, the notion of dealing a top-three or four pick seems absurd.

Whether a team is in need of a center, winger or defenseman, the 2013 draft class presents the chance to select a franchise cornerstone-type player.

Yet, according to Adrian Dater of The Denver Post, the Avalanche may be entertaining the idea of trading the No. 1 draft choice in the June 30 draft:

Starting to hear a little chatter from a few people that first pick may be in play for trade. Buckle up, could be a wild day

— adater (@adater) June 29, 2013

One can only imagine what the Avs would be asking for in return, but trading the pick is ridiculous regardless of what a team may offer.

Unless another general manager has a major lapse in judgment, it's unlikely that Colorado would receive the kind of exchange that the first overall pick in this draft should command.

Recent first overall picks, like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov, may be talented in their own right, but potential No. 1 selection Nathan MacKinnon is seen as much more of a franchise building block than either of them.

Few youngsters out there right now show the potential and promise that players like MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin do.

Furthermore, even if the Avalanche were to find a team willing to give them an established star for the top pick, they would be acquiring a more expensive and less controllable player than a prospect like center MacKinnon.

Perhaps management feels that trading for a seasoned star would be safer than gambling on a prospect, but does anyone believe that MacKinnon is much of a gamble?

Dater summed it up best regarding the potential trade of the first overall draft choice:

Personally, I think Avs will outsmart themselves by trading pick if they do. MacKinnon will be a superstar

— adater (@adater) June 29, 2013

While Colorado may feel it could be making a clever decision to deal the No. 1 pick, chances are that it will be left wondering what could have been years down the road.

Unless the Avs can somehow convince the Edmonton Oilers to offer up Yakupov or Nugent-Hopkins and the seventh overall pick, moving down in the draft shouldn't be considered.

Maybe that's precisely what is going on. After all, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun has reported that the Oilers have been fielding calls regarding the availability of their two young guns.

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Barring something unexpected, the Colorado Avalanche are set to take Nathan MacKinnon with the first pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.

Both Joe Sakic, the executive vice president of hockey operations, and Patrick Roy, the head coach, have all but confirmed that MacKinnon will be the pick, as CBC reports:

There is no doubt that Nathan MacKinnon will turn into a fine player, if not a star. He's a terrific offensive player who can play in all situations. He scored 32 goals and had 43 assists last season with the Halifax Mooseheads.

While MacKinnon may turn into a great player, he's not the right choice for the Avalanche. Why? He's redundant. The Avalanche are actually pretty set down the middle. Between Matt Duchene, Paul Statsny, Ryan O'Reilly and John Mitchell, the Avalanche have four quality centers. 

Unless MacKinnon switches to wing, there is not a spot for him. MacKinnon is better than John Mitchell, but he's not suited for a fourth-line role. Mitchell is. 

There's no need to draft a player who doesn't have a role on the team. Rather, the Avalanche need to pay attention to their woeful defense corps. The Avs let up 3.1 goals-per-game, which was 27th in the league. They had the 20th-ranked penalty kill as well.

Outside of Erik Johnson, there is no elite talent on the blueline, and even Johnson has not yet lived up to his potential. Jan Hejda, probably their most consistent defenseman, is 35.

The Avs could change all of this with the selection of Seth Jones. He's probably the best defensive prospect to come around in the last five years. He's big, athletic and mobile, with a great shot and plays physically. He's similar to Chris Pronger and would be a shutdown defender for the next 10-15 years.

He can play right away, giving a boost to a power play that was ranked 24th in the league.

This is not a repudiation against MacKinnon. He's a fine player and will be a good addition no matter where he ends up. 

But Jones is a perfect match of need and skill. The Avalanche haven't had an impact defenseman since Adam Foote. Jones, who is from the Denver area and grew up rooting for the Avs, is a perfect fit. 

MacKinnon will produce in Colorado, but he won't address the glaring needs on defense. He won't elevate the Avalanche to playoff contention. Instead, he'll give Patrick Roy too many centers who are similar. Statsny, Duchene, O'Reilly and MacKinnon are all similar types of player with strong offensive games. None, however, are the best in their own end, which means that the defense will continue to struggle. The Avs will never reach consistent contention without an improvement in their defense.

Jones, however, has the potential to elevate the Avs to consistent contention.  

The only way the Avs will be vindicated is if Jones does not reach his potential. But all signs suggest that he will reach his potential and become a star. 

MacKinnon should be a great player. But he's the wrong player for the Avs. Jones should be the pick and the Avs can end up regretting it. 

The Colorado Avalanche have let word out that they are not going to draft Seth Jones with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft later this month.

Jones, a right-handed shooting defense prospect, has been rated as the top prospect available in the 2013 draft for the last six months. Jones appears to have superstar-level potential.

Joe Sakic, the team's executive vice-president of hockey operations, will make the team's pick June 30. Sakic told Adrian Dater of the Denver Post that the Avs will not take the young defenseman and will choose one of the three top-rated forwards in the draft if they hold on to the pick.

Could subterfuge be at hand? Does Sakic have any need or desire to fool his competitors with his first-ever pick in the NHL Draft?

It is within the realm of possibility, but it does not seem likely.

This will be the first major move of Sakic's career as an NHL executive. He told Dater that he believes the Avalanche are going to turn to one of the top three forwards—Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin or Alexander Barkov—instead of Jones.

Jones is the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones. If Sakic is just trying to pull the wool over his competitors' eyes or he trades the pick to another team and Jones is selected, the 18-year-old would become the first African-American taken with the initial pick in the NHL Draft.

Jones will face quite a bit of scrutiny no matter when he's selected, but that pressure would increase dramatically if he is selected as the No. 1 pick.

Additionally, it is often takes longer for a young defense prospect to develop into a star NHL player than it does a forward.

However, the Avs have a number of solid young forwards, including Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan O'Reilly and Matt Duchene. The Avs had a poor year on defense (allowed 3.12 goals against per game, ranked 27th in NHL) and a strong need for help on the blue line.

Dater suggested that Sakic will attempt to improve the Avs' defense by going after free-agent blue liners as well as pursuing trades.

Here's a brief scouting report about Jones and the other three prospects that Sakic says the Avs are considering with the No. 1 pick in the draft:

Jones is 6'4" and 205 pounds, and an excellent skater, according to The Hockey Writers' mock draft. Jones played for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. He scored 14 goals and had 42 assists along with a plus-46 rating for Portland this year.

MacKinnon is listed as that online publication's No. 2 pick. He played for the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The 6'0", 180-pound center has the quickness and skill level that makes him an elite player. MacKinnon scored 32 goals and had 43 assists this season, along with a plus-40 rating.

Drouin played with MacKinnon in Halifax. Drouin is an explosive left wing who has been called the most skilled player in the draft. He's not huge at 5'11" and 180 pounds, but he can take a hit and keep going towards the net. He can also score, as his 41 goals, 64 assists and plus-48 rating indicates.

Barkov has the size and strength at 6'2" and 205 pounds that all teams look for in young prospects. He scored 21 goals and 27 assists while playing for Tappara in Finland. He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during his team's playoff run.

Patrick Roy completed a long and successful NHL playing career by retiring from the sport of hockey as a member of the Colorado Avalanche in 2003. 

On Thursday afternoon, he struck a deal with Colorado management to return to the franchise as both the head coach of the team and the Vice President of Hockey Operations. The team's Twitter account had the news of the hiring, while the Denver Post's Adrian Dater reported on Tuesday, May 28th that the legend got a four-year deal, with an option for a fifth:

COACH ROY: The #Avalanche has reached an agreement in principle w/ Patrick Roy to become the franchise's Head Coach/VP of Hockey Operations.

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 23, 2013

NHL.com's Dan Rosen also confirmed that the Avs and Roy had agreed in principle to the move:

Colorado Avalanche announce they have reached an agreement in principle with Patrick Roy to be their new coach and VP of Hockey Operations.

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) May 23, 2013

Roy completed a 19-year NHL career with the Avs following the 2002-03 season. He led the NHL in save percentage four times, made the All-Star team 11 times, was a three-time winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy and also had four Stanley Cup triumphs—two with the Montreal Canadiens and two with Colorado. 

Roy told reporters on Tuesday, May 28, that he was happy to be back in Denver, per the team's Twitter feed: 

Patrick Roy: "Here I am today, back in Denver, ready to embark on a new challenge that I am really looking forward to."

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 28, 2013

Both the Canadiens and the Avalanche have retired Roy's No. 33 jersey. 

Colorado's Instagram account also posted a pic of Roy and what he might look like on the bench with the Avs next season:

The deal to sign Roy comes over three weeks after the Avalanche fired former head coach Joe Sacco after finishing with just 39 points and missing the 2013 NHL playoffs. He takes over a team desperate for a fresh start, as it has missed the playoffs in five of the last seven seasons. 

During an interview as Roy was announced as the team's new head coach, he expressed excitement in earning the job and optimism for helping Colorado get back to the success it had when he was in the net, according to Brian Stubits of CBS Sports:

This is an unbelievable day for me...It's a new and exciting challenge that I am really looking forward to. I would like to thank Stan and Josh Kroenke for this opportunity as well as Joe Sakic for the trust they are putting in me. Almost 10 years to the day that I announced my retirement as a player I am back in Denver and hope the fans are as excited as I am.

Roy comes on board after coaching the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. He was also the general manager of that team, and he'll continue to help the front office and former teammate Joe Sakic—the new President of Hockey Operations—on player personnel decisions. 

As Dave Krieger posted on Twitter, Sakic is also happy to have Roy back on board with the franchise in two significant capacities. According to this tweet, he was always the top candidate during the search for a new head coach:

#Avs exec vp Joe Sakic: “All along Patrick was our top candidate and we are thrilled that he has decided to accept this offer."

— Dave Krieger (@DaveKrieger) May 23, 2013

Team president Josh Kroenke also noted how important this day could turn out to be after Roy's tenure is all said and done (via Krieger):

#Avs prez Josh Kroenke: “This is a very exciting day for our fans and a significant moment in our organization’s history.”

— Dave Krieger (@DaveKrieger) May 23, 2013

Only the Florida Panthers finished with fewer points (36) than Colorado did during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. A front office and coaching staff turnover was imminent at the conclusion of the regular season, and the next domino has dropped in the form of a new head coach. 

It just so happens to be man who is beloved both by the franchise he once played for and the city to which he brought two championships. 

After an ideal NHL draft lottery, it's safe to say the movie script is already being written.

And by ideal, I mean for Seth Jones and the Colorado Avalanche, not the Florida Panthers.

With an 18.8 percent chance at the top pick in the newly revamped draft lottery—all 14 participants had a chance at No. 1—the Avs proved to have the odds in their favor when they nabbed the golden ticket over the Panthers, who had the best chance at 25 percent.

Here's a look at how the top 14 picks will officially go (with the final 16 being decided by the Stanley Cup Playoffs):

Pick	Team	2012 Record
1	Colorado Avalanche	16-25-6
2	Florida Panthers	15-27-6
3	Tampa Bay Lightning	18-26-4
4	Nashville Predators	16-23-9
5	Carolina Hurricanes	19-25-4
6	Calgary Flames	19-25-4
7	Edmonton Oilers	19-22-7
8	Buffalo Sabres	21-21-6
9	New Jersey Devils	19-19-10
10	Dallas Stars	22-22-4
11	Philadelphia Flyers	23-22-3
12	Phoenix Coyotes	21-18-9
13	Winnipeg Jets	24-21-3
14	Columbus Blue Jackets	24-17-7

There's an unwritten rule that says Jones, the consensus top prospect in this draft, isn't allowed to openly celebrate about what now appears to be his likely future destination, but let's not kid ourselves. 

He's celebrating. 

The 18-year-old defenseman literally grew up with the Avalanche. He was born in Plano, Texas but lived in Denver when his dad, Popeye, played with the NBA's Nuggets:

As noted in the above video, when Seth wanted to play hockey, Popeye went to none other than Avalanche legend Joe Sakic to ask for advice. 

Nearly 15 years later, that kid can return to Denver, and return the Avalanche to a level they haven't been at since Sakic retired.

It's almost too perfect.

There's no guarantee that the Avs will take Jones, of course. Halifax teammates Jonathan Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon are oozing with offensive potential and their creativity with the puck could easily sway general manager Greg Sherman in an unexpected direction.

But Jones is the kind of player you can build a team around for the next decade—and the kind of player you don't pass on. 

He has a drool-worthy combination of size (6'4" 205 pounds) and athletic ability. He's an imposing presence who will control the blue line. He will kill penalties. He has the intelligence and intangibles to be a captain and a leader. 

The Avalanche, who were 27th in goals allowed and 20th in penalty killing percentage, need Jones.

Jones doesn't necessarily need the Avs, but being comfortable with the city would only help him succeed more rapidly. 

Coming to a theater—and the Pepsi Center—soon.

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