Question from Joe Cerwinske
Assuming they don’t trade him, what do you think the plan is for Mikhail Gulyayev this season and beyond? Could he sign an ELC after his KHL season ends, and maybe practice with the Avs during the playoffs – and possibly be an injury fill-in? I know there’s still a lot of excitement about him, even if his current season has been uneven.
Aarif’s Response
It’s a bummer he’s had such a tough season. I thought this would be the year he breaks out and excites the organization, but that hasn’t been the case. He’s still only 20 years old and has plenty of time to develop.
I do wonder if the Avs decide to sign him to an entry-level contract this year, just so they can monitor his development with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.
If he’s with the Avs during the playoffs, it would be because they’ve made a deep run, he’s a black ace, and he’s there just for the experience. But even that is highly unlikely given some of the other guys in the AHL they’d call up before him.
I can’t see any scenario where he’s an injury fill-in this year. Nikolai Kovalenko could barely crack six minutes of ice time during the 2024 playoffs and he’s a forward and had a great year in the KHL. Gulyayev is a smaller defenseman and hasn’t been all that great.
Question from Jeff Odgers
Is there any way to find out what is going on with LOC? Will he play this regular season? In the playoffs? Ever? He could help solve a lot for this team.
Aarif’s Response
Jared Bednar provided an update on Logan O’Connor just before the break. It was still pretty vague but it seemed more positive. You can read the full update here.
Here’s the key part of the update:
“He’s back on the ice, making progress. So that’s good,” Bednar told reporters after practice. “He’ll be a guy who uses this break to his advantage. He’s planning on getting on the ice, staying on the ice, and working his way back to hopefully joining the team in the near future if everything goes well.”
From what Bednar said, it sounds like they still have high hopes that O’Connor will be healthy and an option at some point. I’m not sure if that’s before the trade deadline, after, or in the playoffs. It’s no question that the Avs miss him.
