Head coach Patrick Roy took the league by storm to a certain extent last season, helming the upstart Colorado Avalanche to an almost entirely unexpected 52-win campaign culminating in a 1st place finish in the Central Division and a quarterfinals loss to the Minnesota Wild in the playoffs.
Expectations were sky-high heading into the 2014-15 season, but so far the Avs (6-8-5) and Roy have found nothing but difficulty. Currently sitting at 13th in the Western Conference and five points out of a playoff spot, Roy's seat has begun to heat up considerably, and talk of a potential deal for defense has been building.
"NHL executives are waiting with baited breath to see if general manager Joe Sakic and Roy (who has a say in every move) get antsy and want to start dealing young players in an attempt to get immediate help," writes Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun Times.
Roy, who has a say in any and all roster moves, made one misstep already, when he shipped P.A. Parenteau off to Montreal in exchange for diminutive spark plug, Daniel Briere. Parenteau has three game-winners and is garnering top-six minutes with the Canadiens while Briere, who has two goals in 11 games, has been a healthy scratch of late.
"The Avs need a top-four defenseman and many believe if they really want to get one they're going to have to deal forward Ryan O'Reilly. They can't do that now, but keep an eye on this situation."
Injuries to goalie Semyon Varlamov and ineffective defensive play have left the team with a -14 goal differential. O'Reilly, while a talented and capable player who has 10 points in 19 games this season after putting up 64 last year, according to the team's website, is a valuable piece who could bring back a potential top-4 defenseman in trade.
The Avalanche should proceed with caution when it comes to moving O'Reilly or any piece, but if things don't turn themselves around quickly, the pressure on Roy will continue to mount and something - anything - will have to change.
