The Colorado Avalanche are lacking in certain areas, which is not a secret.
They have tried to make up for the deficiencies by adding Alex Galchenyuk. A former first-round pick from the 2012 NHL Entry draft, Galchenyuk entered Avalanche training camp with high expectations from the fans and the coaching staff alike.
Unfortunately, after just two preseason games he was met with an injury. One that was so bad that it forced the Avalanche to release him from his professional tryout.
I sat down last night with Galchenyuk to catch up with him about what he was working on with the team and his experience in Colorado.
Improvement
Coach Jared Bednar of the Avalanche gave Galchenyuk instructions on what he needed to work on when he got sent back on December 7th:
“There’s definitely some instruction on D zone stuff. And also, when I was out there and I’ve been, I didn’t, I didn’t bring enough. I didn’t show enough to stick out there and so I can come back here and put it together,” Galchenyuk said.
I asked how the Colorado Eagles’ coaching staff has worked with him to improve his game and what they were looking at:
“The coaching staff has been really, really helpful and adding, helping, with my weaknesses and my game and also at the same time adding new things to make my game grow and get better and better. The support and the level of commitment that they have towards me is the same way I want to give back and it’s been. It has been loving progress and that I have been shown,” he said.
Beer League
Coach Greg Cronin had mentioned before that Galchenyuk was using a local beer league to help in his rehab.
“It’s a group of people and their level of respect and they knew I was coming back from the injury. There was definitely a level of play and speed there that had some unexpected hits. That was the hardest part. Because sometimes you’re like, the big head is coming, and they’re, you’re just renting to guys or random stuff and from that, but at the same time, that’s what I needed, just to get hit. Like when I’m not expecting it. So that was good. And to get the touches and it ended up being a funny story because everybody’s playing there’s no there was nobody to practice with,” Galchenyuk said.
Why The Avalanche?
Later I asked if there was a specific reason he chose the Avalanche and the Eagles over other teams:
“I Love it here. They just won a Stanley Cup. You feel it, it’s definitely a franchise I want to be in. I am happy it worked out,” he said
Conclusion
Although Galchenyuk has only played four games at the NHL level, he is starting to become a key component to the Eagles team. Coach Cronin has said that he loves his game and his grit on the ice. He only signed a deal for this season, but the way he talks it sounds as though he would like to stay longer than that. If he continues to improve at this pace, that could be a real possibility.
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