Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
Nothing about the Colorado Eagles’ start to the season can be described as particularly concerning.
When the November schedule opened, the Eagles swept two games against Texas. They then got splits in back-to-back series against Coachella Valley and San Jose, two Pacific Division rivals who are off to a good start. With a 6-5-0-1 record going into mid-November, the Eagles certainly haven’t done any damage to their chances of making this season a success.
Still, after an impressive offseason schedule, it feels like the Eagles have a lot more to show for it.
After all, the parent Colorado Avalanche had made a decisive move to develop a solid veteran that could compete for NHL playing time and/or make the Eagles compete with some of the AHL’s top powers. The Avs also did this with a list of names familiar to Eagles fans, the team’s alumni who chose to return to the tight schedule the organization built with their AHL affiliate in Loveland, just an hour north of Denver in the shadow of the AHL. The Stone Mountains.
That proximity makes travel between the Avs and Eagles easier for teams and players. The Eagles have a dedicated fanbase that makes home days at the Blue Arena an event, as well as being an intimidating place to visit for opponents.
First the Avalanche moved forward Jere Innalawho was just coming off a strong season in the Swedish Hockey League with Frölunda, where he had 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists) in 42 regular season games. He then helped his team reach the league semifinals before going on to the IIHF World Championship to represent Finland for the third time.
The moves came quickly once July 1st and free agency has arrived. On that first day, the Eagles returned the AHL’s two-time MVP TJ Tynanthe top pairing option on the blue line in the middle Jacob MacDonaldand another high-ranking veteran of the defense force Call Rosen. All three players have played for the Eagles before, with Tynan winning his first MVP award in 2020-21 while captaining the team. The next day the Avs signed a college free agent Chase BradleyUniversity of Connecticut defenseman who had 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 31 games last season.
Next the Eagles brought back another former captain, Jason Megna. The forward spent parts of four seasons with the Avalanche and Eagles. This time they lured him to a two-year AHL contract. Megna spent last season with the Providence Bruins, where he finished second on the team in scoring with 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) in 69 games.
Other moves followed to strengthen the organization’s depth. Goalkeeper Kevin Mandolese He went west in a trade with the Ottawa Senators on July 15, a new opportunity for him after four seasons with the Belleville Senators. On August 9 the Avs brought danger forward Matthew Phillips back in the Western Conference after recently winning the Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears. After spending most of last season in the NHL with Washington and Pittsburgh, Phillips wasn’t far off his 36-goal season with the Calgary Wranglers in 2022-23. Milwaukee Admirals forward Tye Felhaber He signed with the Eagles while he was an assistant coach in Nashville Dan Hinote He joined the Eagles as an associate coach who will work with the second-year coach Aaron Schneekloth.
They had hopes and who could battle those veterans for a position in the organization and take on the Avs and Eagles. Forward Oskar OlaussonA 2021 first-round pick, he had 11 goals in 39 games for the Eagles last season before shoulder surgery last February sidelined him. One ahead, Nikita Prishchepovopened a lot of eyes after going to the Avs as a seventh-round pick in this past June’s NHL Draft. He arrived at training camp, received a three-year entry-level contract, and reported to the Eagles. On November 1 he found himself recalled to the Avalanche, and went on to play his first nine NHL games and became a regular call-up option.
However, early chaos hit the Eagles. Highly regarded rookie defenseman Sean Behrens injured his knee during practice with the Eagles on Oct. 5, which sidelined him for the rest of the season. Injuries also plagued NHL rosters early, something that quickly became a challenge for the AHL affiliate as well. Tynan, one of the best running backs in the organization, ended up playing in just two games with the Eagles in November. Chris Wagneralso a veteran forward, he is back with the Avs. Prishchepov has been a frequent traveler of I-25. Eagles ahead Jean-Luc Foudy limited to five games. The Avs also entered Kaapo Kahkonen on waivers from Winnipeg on Oct. 11 for more scoring help. After two games with the Eagles, he moved up to the Avalanche but was eventually lost when the Jets claimed him back from waivers on November 12.
However, the Eagles have arrived at that time. After splitting a two-game home set with Ontario, they went 2-0-1-0 on the road with trips to Coachella Valley and Bakersfield before sweeping Henderson in two home games last weekend by a combined score of 11-3.
List pressures have eased recently. Tynan rejoined the lineup last weekend. The offseason work also paid off. Phillips leads the team in scoring with 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 17 games. Megna, Innala, and MacDonald followed in second, third, and fourth respectively. Forward Jake Wise got an AHL contract Nov. 13 and finished with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 13 games. Those 12 points tied him with Rosen.
After wrapping up two games in Abbotsford today, Colorado returns home to face the Grand Rapids Griffins next weekend. At 11-7-1-1, the Eagles moved into fourth place in the Pacific Division. They know that this program can face obstacles. But now it’s time to look at the bank points. January brings 12 games in 28 days. They face a tough road in February and March. Their differences are always filled with competitors.
Grinding continues, and the Eagles know very well that challenges are always ahead of them.
In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league’s top scorer in 2016.
