For years, Gabe Landeskog was the go-to guy for the Colorado Avalanche in the net-front position on the power play.
With Landeskog unavailable the past two seasons, Valeri Nichushkin evolved into one of the league’s best in that role. When Nichushkin wasn’t available, Artturi Lehkonen slid into that spot.
So … who’s up next? The Avalanche is going to open the 2024-25 season Wednesday in Las Vegas, and, barring a late training camp surprise with Lehkonen, none of those players are going to be in Jared Bednar’s lineup against the Golden Knights.
It looks like the answer will be Casey Mittelstadt.
“To be honest, I haven’t spent a lot of time (playing) net front,” Mittelstadt said. “I will say though, I feel pretty comfortable down there. I think in 5-on-5 situations, I absolutely love getting the puck in those areas. It’s where I try to hang out and it’s where I try to get it. It feels comfortable for me. I’m looking forward to it. You’re going to be on the ice with four incredible players, so you can’t ask for much more than that.”
The Avs have practiced with their five best available offensive options — Cal Makar up top, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen on the flanks, Mittelstadt and Jonathan Drouin in the middle — during camp. They haven’t all played together yet, but Mittelstadt in front of the net and Drouin in the “bumper” spot, or the middle of the 1-3-1 alignment, looks like the most likely option.
There will be some flexibility, as the Avs don’t typically use the most rigid of 1-3-1 power-play looks. MacKinnon likes to roam, Rantanen likes to slide down near the side of the net for tip-ins, and it’s likely Mittlestadt and Drouin will switch places at times depending on the flow of the play.
“It changes it a little bit,” Drouin said. “Obviously, I can’t be 6-foot-4 like Val, but I can still get the goalie’s eyes and try to cover part of the net when the puck is up top. Not many guys can be like Val with his size and tipping pucks, but we’re going to work on it. One of us is going to have to be there quite a bit. It’s going to be new to us, but that’s the way it is sometimes.”
Colorado finished last season fifth in the NHL in power-play percentage at 24.5%. The Avs were also second in goals scored with the extra man (68), in part because they had the second-most power play opportunities.
The Avs have finished in the top six in power-play proficiency every season since 2019-20. It’s been a staple of the club having a great offense for years, and Colorado can start any power-play alignment with three of the best offensive players in the world.
This is a different kind of season, though. At least at the start, the Avs might need the power play to help carry the offense even more because those three guys aren’t around to give them a robust forward group that can score with anyone at 5-on-5.
If the power play sputters before Lehkonen is ready, the Avs could try some other options. Nikolai Kovalenko has played there in some preseason games, and Bednar praised his work around the net. Rantanen would offer something similar to Nichushkin, but that would also take away some of the things he does on the flank at a world-class level.
For now, it looks like Mittelstadt, with Drouin mixed in, will be Plan A.
“I mean, it’s different, obviously,” Makar said. “Right now, we’ve had (Mittelstadt) up front. He’s really good with his stick, so I’m still just going to try and shoot at it. It’s a little bit different for someone who hasn’t been there a lot before. He’s still a big body, and if you’re standing there the goalie still has to look around you.
“It’s just finding that connection. I feel with Val and (Landeskog), I know and read them well with where they’re moving in front of the net and I can shoot for that. Sometimes you want a moving screen, so guys aren’t just standing there the whole time. (Mittelstadt) and I have been working on that at different times, just with him moving around in front of the net so I can read where he’s going.”
Footnotes: The Avalanche released Pierre-Edouard Bellemare from his player-tryout contract Thursday morning. He was part of the competition for a spot on the fourth line, likely at center. The Avs do not have any of the top-four guys in shorthanded faceoffs taken back from last season, so it’s certainly possible that a center who can kill penalties could be claimed off the waiver wire as teams around the league cut down to 23 players by Monday night.
Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis.
