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A healthy Leopold strengthens Avs defense

Burgundy-White game showcases player's talents

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 22, 2008 at 9:30 p.m.

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The Burgundy team's T.J. Hensick shoots as he is defended by the White's Kyle Cumiskey in the first period of the Avalanche's intrasquad game Monday night at the Air Force Academy.

Photo by Bryan Oller / The Gazette

The Burgundy team's T.J. Hensick shoots as he is defended by the White's Kyle Cumiskey in the first period of the Avalanche's intrasquad game Monday night at the Air Force Academy.

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Jordan Leopold showed more than a passing glimpse Monday night of what he is capable of when healthy.

The 28-year-old Avalanche defenseman had four shots, two goals and two assists and was a plus-6 for the White team in a 9-0 rout of the Burgundy at the Cadet Ice Arena in the annual intrasquad game.

Problem is, Leopold has spent a lot more time in the medical room than on the ice since arriving two years ago from Calgary in the trade that sent Alex Tanguay to the Flames.

"The last couple seasons have been really frustrating," he said. "To come into camp this year and say I feel healthy and mean it . . . last year was a little bit of a struggle off the get-go. I'm feeling good. I'm skating well and I got a couple chances to put the puck in the net.

"The sky is blue, not that dark gray as it was in the past."

Avalanche coach Tony Granato can only hope Leopold, who should be entering the prime of his NHL career, can stay in one piece for an entire season.

Because of injuries or illness, the hard-luck Leopold has managed to play in only 58 of 164 games with the Avalanche, 43 games last season when he had five goals and eight assists.

"It seems that everything that can go wrong does go wrong for him injurywise," Granato said. "He's due to put together a streak here where he can stay healthy for a while. The thing about him, his attitude was so good. Even though he does get banged up, he still sticks with it. He sticks with the rehab thing and he shows up with a great attitude to try and get healthy.

"He certainly was a guy, when we acquired him, we knew what his upside was. You've seen bits and pieces of him, spurts of him, but he would add a lot to our hockey team. He's very mobile back there, recognizes when and when not to jump into the play. He's going to be a nice part of our blue line."

The Avalanche defense should be a strong point with a top six of Leopold, Brett Clark, Adam Foote, Scott Hannan, John- Michael Liles and Ruslan Salei.

"I don't like talking about (injuries), but it is what it is," said Leopold, the 2002 Hobey Baker Award winner from the University of Minnesota. "I've stayed positive all summer, and we'll see the rest of the way how camp goes, but for now I feel good."

Goalie Andrew Raycroft felt the same way after stopping all seven shots he faced in the first period, his only period of work.

Peter Budaj, who turned aside 10-of-12 first-period shots, has been named the No. 1 goalie, but the Avalanche is banking on Raycroft to rebound from last season's dismal season in Toronto.

"I expect a lot," said Raycroft, who was signed to a one-year contract as a free agent after Jose Theodore left for Washington. "Obviously, last year wasn't my finest year, and I'm looking forward to bouncing back."

Raycroft believes it will be an advantage to work with goalie coach Jeff Hackett, a former teammate in Boston.

"I have a bit of history with Jeff," he said. "We played together for a couple months in Boston, so there's a bit of a comfort level there. He played a long time and he had an extremely successful career, so it's nice to have a guy like that around to talk to."

ETC.: David Jones had a hat trick in the third period, Milan Hejduk finished with two goals and two assists and Ryan Smyth had three assists. . . . The Burgundy won an exhibition shootout 2-1. Rookie Chris Stewart scored the decisive goal despite breaking his stick on the play. . . . Paul Stastny didn't play because of his bruised shoulder, but he skated earlier in the day and is expected to take part in training camp scrimmages today.

White 9, Burgundy 0

White2 3 4 - 9

Burgundy0 0 0 - 0

First period - 1, White, Leopold (Smyth, Dupuis) 10:04. 2, White, Leopold (Montgomery, Hendricks) 16:53.

Second period - 3, White, Hejduk (Montgomery, Leopold), 0:17. 4, White, McCormick (Smyth, Hejduk) 4:55. 5, White, Hejduk (Smyth, McCormick), 14:04.

Third period - 6, White, Jones (Leopold, Guite), 3:05. 7, White, Jones (Vernace, Campbell), 6:40. 8, White, Fritsche (Hejduk) 14:23. 9, White, Jones (unassisted) 19:51.

Shots - White 12-17-14 - 43. Burgundy 7-9-7 - 23. Goalies - Raycroft (7 shots, 7 saves), Bacashihua (16-16). Burgundy, Budaj (12-10), Weiman (31-24). A - 2,641.

Comments

  • September 23, 2008

    9:16 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    foppajr writes:

    Avs won't be as bad as the media are projecting. Not Stanley Cup material, but they have the ability to make the playoffs. Much depends on staying healthy and Budaj.