The Colorado Avalanche were rather quiet on the player front this offseason, but made major headlines with a late coaching change.Patrick Roys unexpected resignation in August forced the Avs into the kind of coaching search no team should ever desire -- the one that comes after most of the top names had been hired.But GM Joe Sakic took a gamble he believes will pay off in elevating unheralded Jared Bednar from the minors, where he led his teams to championships both in the AHL and ECHL.The most constant and stinging criticism of Roys coaching style was that the Avs bucked the trend of puck-possession systems that have garnered much success around the league, instead playing a counterattack game that was exciting at times, but also in the long run led to too much time without the puck. Bednar promises to address that this season and change the way the Avs play with the puck.Colorado was in the playoff race last season until fading late, losing eight of its last 10 games, missing the postseason for the second straight year after the surprising Central Division title win in 2013-14, Roys first season behind the bench.The Avs return with largely the same core of players. Theyve got high-end offensive talent led by Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon, but have struggled mightily defensively. Theyve got to be better there.Best new facesThe Avs acquired defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Patrick Wiercioch to help bolster the blue line, also adding forwards Joe Colborne, Rocco Grimaldi and Ben Smith. Gabriel Bourque and Rene Bourque were signed to tryout contracts.The 6-foot-5, 202-pound Wiercioch gets a second lease on life in Colorado after wearing out the patience of the Ottawa Senators. He had promising moments during his first few years but frustrated the Sens with his lack of consistency. Does a fresh start in Colorado help the 26-year-old meet his potential?Colborne, also 26, put up career highs of 19 goals and 44 points last season. The 6-foot-5 center, however, was let go by the Calgary Flames, who had to preserve salary-cap space. Perhaps a sneaky signing here by the Avs.All in all, though, nothing earth-shattering as far as player additions.As far as a newcomer to the NHL lineup, however, exciting things are ahead from forward Mikko Rantanen, the 10th overall pick in the 2015 draft. He has the potential to get into the Calder Trophy conversation.The most important new face, though, is behind the bench in Bednar, who makes his NHL debut after cutting his teeth for years in the minors.Biggest unknownsHow will Bednar fare? He wants to play a puck-pressure game and obviously tighten up defensively, all the things you want to hear if youre an Avs fan. But how will the players respond to a largely unknown coach?Is Nikita Zadorov ready to make a step this season? That would be a boon to the blue-line if the 6-foot-5 Russian turned in an impact season. Hes got the talent to be a two-way guy, but needs to show more consistency.Which Semyon Varlamov shows up this season? The Russian goalie has regressed two straight years since putting up a career-best .927 save percentage in 2013-14 in helping lead the Avs to that Central title. He brilliantly masked a lot of Colorados defensive issues that season. But since then, that save percentage has dipped to .921 in 2014-15 and then just .914 last season (to go along with a 2.81 goals-against average). Now, Varlamov could certainly use better defensive play in front of him, no question. But its the chicken and the egg here. If hes better this season, everything else flows from there.His backup, Calvin Pickard, has potential to be a No. 1. So the Avs look pretty darn solid in goal if Varlamov bounces back.Sure thingsDuchene, MacKinnon and defenseman Tyson Barrie are the offensive dynamos, while captain Gabriel Landeskogs consistent two-way game forms the core of Colorados go-to arsenal. Landeskog and Swedish countryman Carl Soderberg formed a steady pairing up front last season.MacKinnon was outstanding in the World Cup of Hockey for Team North America, while Duchene shined in a Team Canada win over Team USA. Look for both offensive stars to carry that over into strong starts. It should be noted that Duchene played through a separated shoulder, which he suffered before the tournament officially started but he didnt miss a game and the worse of it is behind him, he said.PredictionI think the Avs will do a better job of protecting the puck with Bednar, but some of the same concerns remain on defense. How Varlamov bounces back will have a huge bearing on things. Theyre in a crazy division, where a team such as the Winnipeg Jets is going to be better while contenders the Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and improved Nashville Predators arent going away. I just cant see Colorado being any better than those teams. They will be competitive but miss out by a few points. Seventh in the Central. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Adidas NHL Jerseys Wholesale . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. http://www.wholesalenhljerseys.us/ . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. NHL Jerseys Outlet Store . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Cheap NHL Jerseys Free Shipping .com) - Richie Incognito has reportedly been admitted to a psychiatric care unit in Arizona. Melbourne fans could catch a glimpse of the Demons forward line of the future on Saturday, with prized recruit Sam Weideman set to line up alongside young star Jesse Hogan.Weideman, the grandson of Collingwood great Murray Weideman, was the ninth overall pick at last years national draft, coach Paul Roos confirming on Thursday he would make his AFL debut against Hawthorn at the MCG.The Demons have high hopes the 195cm prospect will partner Hogan in attack for years to come, but of more immediate concern for Roos is the fitness of Hogan, who suffered a heavy knock to a knee after clattering into a point post in last weeks thrilling two-point win over Gold Coast.Hes progressing ... the plan will be to name him then jog him on (Friday) morning - the expectations are that hell play, but theres a little bit of water to go under the bridge yet, Roos said.I dont think well leave it until Saturday morning, hes still a young player.The next hurdle will be iff he doesnt feel great in the warm-up but I suspect if he gets through (Fridays fitness test) he should be fine.ddddddddddddWith just four games left in his coaching tenure, Roos has the chance to rid the Demons of another unwanted hoodoo.Melbourne have broken lengthy losing streaks at Etihad Stadium and against Carlton, Collingwood and Geelong under Roos watch and will be looking to snap a 13-game losing run against the Hawks.Theyre still the benchmark team, theyre two games clear on top of the ladder, Roos said.I think theres excitement (amongst our players) on the back of last weeks win - it was really important to get our eighth win.So there is excitement but you hope it translates ... youve got to understand the quality of the opposition - that excitement can change pretty quickly if we dont get off to a good start. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '