After a stormy season, in which the Avs finished 16-25-7 (second worst overall behind 15-27-6 Florida), the team does feature some quality young players in Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan O鈥橰eilly.
Victoria鈥檚 Tyson Barrie looks to be an important piece of the puzzle as well, coming off his first season with the Avalanche.
The 21-year-old finished with two goals and 11 assists in 32 games played. That鈥檚 fifth in scoring among rookie NHL defencemen, ahead of Brentwood Bay鈥檚 Mat Irwin of the San Jose Sharks.
Better yet, Barrie鈥檚 average ice time of 21:34 and average of 27.6 shifts a game sat second among rookie rearguards behind just Jonas Brodin of Minnesota (23:12 in ice time and 29.8 shifts a game).
鈥淚t was good, odd with the lockout and all, but I finished the year here so I can鈥檛 complain,鈥� Barrie said of his first full 鈥� albeit lock-out shortened 鈥� NHL campaign.
鈥淥bviously, I鈥檓 a points guy on the back end. I didn鈥檛 put up great numbers, but I鈥檓 happy that I had my chances. Happy that I started there and, hopefully, I can improve every year.鈥�
The former Kelowna Rockets defenceman suited up in 10 games last year with the Avs, with the remainder played with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League.
鈥淲hen I did play, I played a lot. I was fortunate to get the ice time, especially from March on,鈥� Barrie said of his playing time in Denver this season. 鈥淭hey are giving me an opportunity. It was a bit of an adjustment, but I felt like I got comfortable at the end and played pretty well.鈥�
Barrie also saw plenty of power-play time and, in the second-last game of the year against Phoenix, he finished the outing with 28:48 of ice time in a 5-4 overtime shootout win. It was the most minutes played by a rookie in a single game in Avalanche history.
鈥淟ast year was a learning curve for me, I was a bit nervous in most of those games. I settled in this year and got a little more comfortable,鈥� Barrie said of 2012-13.
鈥淭here are going to be questions about your defensive ability,鈥� he said in looking forward. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I鈥檓 working hard on and hopefully I can continue to develop that. Also, I want to get more comfortable on the power play and contribute that way a bit more next year.鈥�
As for the coaching change, he said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fresh start, an opportunity for everybody. We don鈥檛 know who it will be, obviously, but when we do find out it鈥檚 a fresh start and hopefully he likes you.鈥�
鈥淎ny time you have a season as bad as ours was [standings wise] you expect some changes to be made. That鈥檚 a part of the game,鈥� added Barrie.
The Avalanche did win the NHL draft lottery on Monday and will pick first, expecting to nab Portland Winterhawks defenceman Seth Jones, who learned to play hockey in Colorado.
鈥淔rom what I鈥檝e heard, he is quite the player, so it would be nice to have a guy like that on the back end,鈥� offered Barrie, who is keeping a positive look to the future.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got a great young team. There鈥檚 a lot of future there, we just have to right the ship and put it together,鈥� said Barrie, who plans on returning to Victoria for the summer.
