Friday Faceoff: Which former Avalanche could most help the team win a championship now?

Mark Kiszla, columnist

Answer: Marc Crawford

Something’s missing from the Avs. This team could be a dynasty. But if you ask me, it’s a disappointment. Why? Since defenseman Cale Makar joined forces with center Nathan MacKinnon in 2019, Colorado has been blessed with two of the top 50 players in NHL history. Am I wrong here? Am I overestimating the talent of MacKinnon and Makar?

It’s cool the group led by the M&M Boys won a championship together. But during the same time frame that MacKinnon and Makar have skated together, both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers have hoisted the Stanley Cup twice.

And that ain’t right. It’s an opportunity loss.

Are you telling me the Panthers are a more talented bunch than the Avalanche? What’s missing in Colorado? If the Avs could bring back a blast from the past to insert in the locker room now, who would be your No. 1 draft choice?

There are no wrong answers and a cornucopia of hockey goodness from which to choose. But I’m going with Marc Crawford, the fiery coach that kicked butt and hoisted the Cup way back in 1996. He could instill the edge this current group of Avs too often lacks.

It’s no secret that I believe Jared Bednar is a prince of a man, but not much more than an average coach in Avalanche history. Is he really as good on the bench or in the room as Bob Hartley or Joel Quenneville? Methinks not.

I will give Bedsy this much: He’s better at this coaching thing than the legend he replaced, Patrick Roy. Unless, of course, the Avs could bring St. Patrick back at the peak of his goaltending form, then let him play between the pipes while coaching at the same time.

Evan Rawal, Avalanche beat reporter

Answer: Ryan O’Reilly

If you’re asking me which player from my lifetime the current iteration of the Avalanche could use, that’s easy. It’s Adam Foote. This team needs on the back end a bruiser who isn’t afraid of anyone. Unfortunately, at 53 years old, something tells me Foote would have a tough time keeping up with the rule changes we’ve seen in the NHL, so I’ll stick with players still kicking around in the league.

Nothing against Charlie Coyle, who was a fine addition at the trade deadline, but it’s time to bring back someone I would argue never should have been traded in the first place.

Ryan O’Reilly is slightly older than Coyle, but he’s still a very effective center. In Colorado, he’d be an ideal third-line center. O’Reilly becomes a favorite of any coach he plays for and that would be no different in Colorado. He’s still very trustworthy on defense, can win a face-off against anyone and chips in 20 goals at the other end of the ice.

Jared Bednar would love having that guy to throw on the ice in the final minute of a game.

We’ve seen every year that strength down the middle wins in the playoffs. Florida has been stacked at center for three years and it’s gotten the Panthers to the Stanley Cup each season. Put O’Reilly behind Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson and you’re sitting pretty. Plus, he wouldn’t be a bad guy for Jack Drury to learn a trick or two from.