Opinion Writers Specializing in Sports Matters

The Dallas Stars, not Stan Kroenke, OWN the Avalanche. Whiny Pete DeBoer, however, STILL is. After years of trades, draft picks, and fans celebrating back home, a question lingers: When will change come?

During game 3, with the Avs leading 2-0 in the third, DeBoer didn't hide his title, waving it at Mikko Rantanen. The Moose broke loose, and the Avs, in Colorado lingo, got hoodwinked.

When will change come?

The Avs traveled to Dallas with Nichushkin, depth in centers, a ferocious fourth line, new goalies, and the miraculous return of Landeskog. Meanwhile, Dallas struggled after April and limped in, without top scorer Jason Robertson and top defenseman Miro Heiskanen.

Yet, Dallas won.

Bednar, an outstanding team servant, has given so much to this organization. Yet, the Whiny Pete thing persists, which won't abate without one of them leaving first.

Bednar's 0-4 against DeBoer in playoff series, 0-2 in Game 7s. Since 2012, only the Tampa Bay Lightning (11.1%) and New Jersey Devils (0.0%) had a worse power-play percentage than Colorado's 13.6% in the first round.

Nathan MacKinnon was as dour as one could expect. "We made bad adjustments. We had our opportunities, but they weren't going in. Yeah, bad adjustments," he admitted.

Stan and son Josh Kroenke must ponder a simple question: What would MacKinnon value more – a tranquil boat or a new voice and plan to challenge Dallas or Vegas?

Hoping DeBoer misses the playoffs is not a strategy. Young talents like Wyatt Johnston (21), Lian Bichsel (20), Thomas Harley (23), and goalie Jake Oettinger (26) loom large for Dallas.

If not now, when?

Head coach prodigy David Carle, hailed as the Mike Krzyzewski of college hockey, is a phone call away. If Montgomery could succeed at the next level, why not Carle?

Colorado's 9-7 in playoff overtime games with Bednar, but 6-7 since 2020 and 1-4 since the 2022 Cup win. Bednar's 15-17 as Avs coach in one-goal postseason tilts, and 2-7 since the Cup win.

"Carle's adjustments in games that other coaches might not see" is what O'Connor highlighted, admiring Carle's small adjustments that could distinguish him in the NHL.

Meanwhile, the Avs continue to fall through narrow margins. The Kroenkes might look at hockey as a secondary sport, similar to many Power 4 college athletic directors and women's basketball.

The Avs are fine, but teetering on the brink. GM Chris McFarland spent big on MacKinnon and Cale Makar for a second title, to no avail. The Avs have no first-round draft pick until 2027, and by then, Bednar's contract will be up.

Landeskog's return is the story of the year, but it adds $7 million to the cap moving forward. Makar is next up for a big payday that McFarland didn't give Rantanen. Does the tension between MacKinnon and Rantanen's contract situation play a role? Only time will tell.

As Bednar put it: "They're busy people, so we see them every once in a while. I talk to him [Josh Kroenke] right before the playoffs. But they're terrific owners. I think no one's going to put more pressure on me or the team than we put on ourselves."

The Avs missed their chance to seal the series on Saturday, blowing a two-goal lead against short-handed Dallas. Fans ask: Is it coaching or karma? Avs leaders must decide: If not now, when?

Whiny Pete DeBoer's title-waving antics during game 3 didn't help the Avs, as they got hoodwinked and lost.
The Dallas Stars, despite struggling after April, managed to win against the Avs.
Bednar, who has given so much to the Avs organization, is still dealing with the Whiny Pete issue.
Since 2012, the Avs' power-play percentage in the first round is one of the worst in the league.
Nathan MacKinnon admitted that poor adjustments were made during the game, and opportunities were missed.
The Kroenkes must consider if MacKinnon would value a new voice and plan more than a tranquil boat to challenge Dallas or Vegas.
Young talents like Wyatt Johnston, Lian Bichsel, Thomas Harley, and Jake Oettinger loom large for Dallas.
If not now, when will change come for the Avs?
David Carle, hailed as the Mike Krzyzewski of college hockey, could be a potential solution for the Avs.
The Avs have struggled in playoff overtime games and one-goal postseason tilts under Bednar.
O'Connor admires Carle's ability to make small adjustments in games that other coaches might not see.
The Avs are teetering on the brink, with the tension between MacKinnon and Rantanen's contract situation possibly playing a role.
Landeskog's return adds $7 million to the cap, and Makar is next up for a big payday that McFarland didn't give Rantanen.
The Avs have no first-round draft pick until 2027, and by then, Bednar's contract will be up.
Bednar believes that the owners, the Kroenkes, are terrific and that they put more pressure on him and the team than anyone else.
The Avs missed their chance to seal the series on Saturday, blowing a two-goal lead against short-handed Dallas, making fans wonder: Is it coaching or karma?