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Avalanche Journal: Power ranking Colorado’s possible first-round playoff opponents

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:48:40 GMT

After the Avalanche’s 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, coach Jared Bednar acknowledged that winning the division has its perks. Colorado’s goal, at one point merely to survive its injuries and make the playoffs, is now to earn a more ambitious first-place finish.The eight playoff teams in the West are all but decided, barring any late drama involving Nashville or Calgary. The remaining games are all about the bracket puzzle. We ranked the Avalanche’s seven playoff challengers in order from easiest hypothetical first-round matchup (7) to hardest (1).7. Winnipeg Jets: The Central will have trouble catching Vegas, but this is the incentive to win the conference. Winnipeg has fallen off a cliff after a good start to the season. The Jets are below .500 in their last 30 games, making them easily the least intimidating playoff team in the NHL. They have an elite penalty kill and a towering goalie, but the Avs have a great power play and a proclivity for beating up Con...

Breaking down Broncos by position between free agency and April’s NFL Draft

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:48:40 GMT

The opening blitz of free agency is now past and the NFL Draft is just a month away.Denver wasted no time in its player acquisition efforts earlier this month, landing six on the first day of free agency and adding 13 – 10 from outside the organization and three returning to the fold – over the first 10 days of action and shelling out more than $138 million in guaranteed money.General manager George Paton, head coach Sean Payton and their staffs will continue mining the ranks for potential additions up to and through the draft, but now is a good time to revisit the roster after the latest rounds of infusion for an updated look on where the Broncos stand.QuarterbackReturners: Russell Wilson, Jarrett GuarantanoNewcomer: Jarrett StidhamDepartures/free agents: Brett RypienDraft need: Potentially. The Broncos liked Guarantano enough to keep him around after signing him late in 2022, so the call may end up being either rolling with him as a development project or finding a quarterback lat...

Douglas County baseball loaded with talent, depth as early Class 5A state title contender

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:48:40 GMT

With two of the top-ranked players in the state plus a wealth of depth and experience, Douglas County baseball has all the pieces in place to make a run at the program’s first state championship this year.The Huskies boast senior right-hander and BYU commit Max Stanley, the No. 1-rated arm in the Class of 2023 according to Prep Baseball Report, as well as star senior shortstop/closer Finley Bates (San Diego State).Add in a couple other Division I pledges in senior right-hander/first baseman Hunter Gotschall (Hawaii) and senior second baseman Eli Athanas (Central Connecticut State), and loaded DC’s ultimate 2023 goal is clear.“We want to play in the last game of the year,” head coach Craig Gienger said. “I want to be the team that’s there with a chance to win it all. We’ve definitely got the talent and the supporting cast who are very meaningful to our team and can carry us along that journey… And it feels right with this team. I’...

Ryan Rolison, Rockies 2018 first-round pick, back from shoulder surgery that derailed journey to Colorado’s rotation

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:48:40 GMT

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Rolison (47) during 2023 media photo day at spring training at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Feb. 24, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The image is an in-camera multiple exposure, created with two images merged into a single frame. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)For a Rockies rotation short on southpaws — and for a farm system short on southpaw prospects — Ryan Rolison was a rare talent. He was supposed to be a sure thing.The first college left-hander drafted in 2018, Rolison checked all the boxes coming out of Ole Miss. Durability. Pitchability. Advanced stuff. He showed maturity and there were expectations he would fast-track to the big leagues after Colorado took him No. 22 overall.But as is often the case with a prospect’s path to the majors, he ran headlong into numerous speed bumps along the way — the most obtrusive coming just as he was primed to reach the big leagues.In 2021, he was struck by two bolts of bad luck: app...

Rockies’ journey to the majors: From Charlie Blackmon to Elehuris Montero

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:48:40 GMT

The journey to the major leagues is a long and arduous path — one that may take unexpected twists and turns.With opening day nearly upon us, Denver Post beat writer Kyle Newman puts the spotlight on five different Rockies, taking a look at each of their journeys to the majors. From an unheralded pitcher turned elite hitter to a “can’t-miss” prospect who battled unexpected twists, here’s a look at their stories:Colorado Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) during 2023 media photo day at spring training at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Feb. 24, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The image is an in-camera multiple exposure, created with two images merged into a single frame. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)Charlie Blackmon, outfielderBefore he was an all-time Rockie, Charlie Blackmon was an unheralded southpaw prospect at Atlanta’s North Gwinnett High School.He wasn’t supposed to sniff a major-league diamond as a pitcher, much less as a hitter wh...

Rockies icon Charlie Blackmon went from washed-out southpaw to National League batting champion

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:48:40 GMT

Colorado Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) during 2023 media photo day at spring training at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Feb. 24, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The image is an in-camera multiple exposure, created with two images merged into a single frame. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)Before he was an all-time Rockie, Charlie Blackmon was an unheralded southpaw prospect at Atlanta’s North Gwinnett High School.He wasn’t supposed to sniff a major-league diamond as a pitcher, much less as a hitter who would go on to four All-Star nods and a National League batting title.But “Chuck Nazty” used sweat equity and a pure lefty swing that no scout saw playing in the pros to transform his game and make him a fan favorite at Coors Field, where Blackmon enters his 13th year of service.Blackmon’s only college offer coming out of high school was from Young Harris Junior College. Even after he pitched himself from Young Harris to Georgia Tech, h...

Elehuris Montero, top positional prospect in Nolan Arenado trade, set up to contribute to Rockies in 2023

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:48:40 GMT

Colorado Rockies third baseman Elehuris Montero (44) during 2023 media photo day at spring training at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Feb. 24, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The image is an in-camera multiple exposure, created with two images merged into a single frame. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)At one point, Elehuris Montero, signed at age 16 out of Santo Domingo Centro, Dominican Republic, was just another prospect, albeit one of the more highly touted ones in the Cardinals’ system.But that all changed on Feb. 2, 2021, the day the Cardinals officially traded for Nolan Arenado. Montero came to Colorado as the top-rated positional prospect in the deal. He also happened to play Arenado’s position, third base.Lofty expectations were set for Montero (and perhaps unfairly so) by a Colorado fanbase angry about what it viewed as a fleecing in the Arenado trade, where the Rockies not only dealt the likely Hall of Fame player but also paid the Cardinals $51 mil...

From Venezuela to Coors Field, Yonathan Daza took path to majors familiar to many Latin American players

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:48:40 GMT

Colorado Rockies center fielder Yonathan Daza (2) during 2023 media photo day at spring training at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Feb. 24, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The image is an in-camera multiple exposure, created with two images merged into a single frame. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)From playing baseball with a stick in the streets of Maracy, Venezuela, to hitting at spacious Coors Field, Yonathan Daza hiked a steep road to the majors, one familiar to many Latin American prospects.Daza’s challenges were both common (new language/culture) and tragically uncommon (a rocky childhood that included the loss of his older brother to gun violence).But the Rockies’ outfielder insists that those difficult times made him into the player he is today.“(My upbringing in Venezuela) made me a lot stronger, for sure. It matured me as a person,” he said. “The things I experienced at home gave me no fears to get through the minors. I think it helped ...

Avs Mailbag: Will Gabriel Landeskog return in time for start of Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:48:40 GMT

Denver Post sports writer Bennett Durando opens up the Avs Mailbag periodically throughout the season. Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.Do you see a major shakeup this offseason on the roster? The cap situation looks really bleak.— @Pokecheque (via Twitter)Definitely not a major shakeup, but cap navigation is a natural consequence of winning a championship. The Avs are actually pretty fortunate to have five top-six forwards locked up for the next two years after this: Nathan MacKinnon through 2031, Valeri Nichushkin through 2030, Gabriel Landeskog through 2029, Artturi Lehkonen through 2028 and Mikko Rantanen through 2025. Those five contracts equal $39.475 million — about 47% of next season’s projected $83.5 million salary cap.Four of Colorado’s top-five defensemen also remain under contract next season, equaling $22.6 million (27%). In total, the Avs have 13 returning contracts worth a combined $64.875 million. That covers most...

UK's Prince William visits troops in Poland on surprise trip

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:48:40 GMT

Prince William, the British prince, visited Poland unannounced Wednesday (22 March) to express gratitude to British and Polish troops for their support of Ukraine. He also met refugees fleeing Russia to share their stories.His office stated that the heir-to the throne traveled to Rzeszow, in southeast Poland, to meet Mariusz Blaszczak (Defence Minister), and to speak with members of the Polish defense force and British troops stationed there.Following Russia's invasion, the NATO builds up strength on its eastern flank. The British are part of that NATO deployment.Although the royal's trip is not being publicised, his spokesperson stated that William was keen for it to go ahead and that it was something he requested.William stated that he was present to express gratitude to the British and Polish troops for their close partnership. "I also want pay tribute to the ingenious humanity of the Polish people. Your hearts have been as open as your homes.The Prince of Wales will travel to Wa...