Two days following Devon Toews’ candid and critical remarks toward his teammates, his coach validated his viewpoint, with a couple of Avalanche players expressing that the delivery of the message wasn’t problematic.
Toews displayed visible frustration after a 3-2 defeat against the NHL’s last-place team in Chicago. His words, conveyed passionately to Guerilla Sports, implied that some of the Avs players might have a misplaced belief in their performance, expressing his frustration about playing alongside teammates whose on-ice positioning seemed unpredictable.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, speaking on Thursday morning before their game against the Ottawa Senators, acknowledged Toews’ frustration but also agreed with his sentiments. Bednar emphasized the team’s need to adhere to the system’s details, work ethic, and competitive standards, which have fallen short recently, leading to setbacks in their performance over the past 11 games.
The problems from Tuesday’s game for the Avalanche were twofold: defensive lapses that led to Chicago’s goals and a lack of offensive pressure despite taking 37 shots, resulting in no even-strength goals.
Toews mentioned a discrepancy between understanding the team’s structure and effectively executing it. He highlighted the challenge of finding a balance between comprehension and implementation within the team, expressing a need to discern whether players understand and simply don’t execute or if they are still grappling with the system.
He emphasized the collective effort within the team, underscoring their commitment to one another and their readiness to face new challenges, such as the game scheduled for Thursday night.
The Avalanche underwent significant changes in the offseason, bringing in new players to bolster their depth, especially in the forward positions. Additionally, the team has been missing key defensemen—Cale Makar due to a lower-body injury for the past three games and Samuel Girard, absent for nearly a month due to participation in the players’ assistance program.
The potential return of both Makar and Girard is anticipated. However, other experienced Avalanche players didn’t express any concerns about Devon Toews’ remarks or the manner in which he delivered them.
Defenseman Jack Johnson emphasized that the reaction to such comments depends on the team’s dynamics. He stated that a team of mature individuals wouldn’t be significantly affected, contrasting it with a situation where more sensitive or dramatic personalities might feel bothered. Johnson, being less involved in social media, mentioned that he only learned about Toews’ comments the following day and deemed it a non-issue for the team.
Ryan Johansen, who also brings extensive NHL experience from various teams, echoed Johnson’s sentiment. He highlighted the importance of having an adult discussion within the group about the matter, emphasizing the team’s ability to address issues maturely and move ahead collectively.
The recent game in Chicago isn’t an isolated incident for the Avalanche. Colorado has encountered similar issues before, evident in their seven losses out of the past 11 games (4-7-2 record). As of Thursday, they held the 10th position in the NHL standings based on points percentage, a position significantly below the team’s expected performance level, both internally among the players and externally.
Jack Johnson acknowledged this deviation from expectations and emphasized the necessity for players to stick to what they’ve been doing throughout their professional careers. He stressed the importance of professionalism, attention to detail, adherence to the team’s playing style, and execution of the coaches’ directives. Johnson simplified the approach by stating that there’s no secret formula—players just need to fulfill their responsibilities and perform their roles effectively.
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