Avalanche forward on exit from playoffs
Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor is amongst roughly ten NHL regulars collaborating in the College of Denver’s professional camp at Magness Arena this week.
The 25-12 months-previous former DU standout signed with the Avs as an undrafted totally free agent in 2018, and has appeared in online games each of the earlier three seasons, together with 22 in 2020-21. With a tiny extra than a thirty day period in advance of the Avs start out schooling camp, O’Connor agreed to an interview with The Submit. Here’s what he had to say:
Dilemma: You played in just 22 online games past season, furthermore two in the playoffs — the past two. We know you had surgery for a reduce-body harm. What was the harm?
OC: “It was sporting activities hernia and groin surgery. It had been bugging me for a while. It started out early in the 12 months and I tried out to just drive via it and drive off surgery until the summertime. It just obtained to the stage I genuinely could not do that anymore and perform to my potential. It’s hard to perform in this league as 70 or eighty%.”
Q: You men commenced 6- in the playoffs in advance of every thing went erroneous in the second round in opposition to Vegas. Does shedding four straight for the 1st time all season even now sting?
OC: “It was a disappointing end for us, obviously. You just check out to just take items away that will assist make improvements to following 12 months and not have this feeling once more, mainly because dwelling on it all through the summertime is hardly ever enjoyment, specially figuring out the workforce we have and the likely we had to make an impact in the playoffs.”
Q: The workforce was on a Cup-or-bust mission past season. Is that mission that a lot extra rigorous now?
OC: “I consider men are undoubtedly even now pretty bitter about items and ideally we can carry that into following season. We can do anything at all (wonderful) in the typical season but after the Presidents’ Trophy, none of that genuinely issues. It’s a clean set, a reset, and we have to study from that. You study from your failures extra than your successes, so I consider we just have to just take ways going forward and expand and experienced as a team via the playoffs.”
Q: The Avalanche protected you in the expansion draft past thirty day period, while other forwards like Joonas Donskoi (who was chosen) and J.T. Compher were being unprotected. I know contracts have a thing to do with that, but how does it truly feel to know the Avs have a deep investment in you?
OC: “It’s huge and goes a long way, but now which is around with and now I have to change the webpage and construct on it, continue to keep getting ways in the suitable course. I really don’t consider you can at any time be glad in this league mainly because which is when you tumble back a few ways. You have to continuously drive and round out your video game. I consider which is what everybody does in the summertime to come to camp well prepared to assist the workforce gain.”
Q: I would consider you’re a tiny extra self-assured this summertime after earning your return in the playoffs and playing so nicely in Games five and 6 in opposition to Vegas. Legitimate?
OC: “The 1st video game I felt pretty great. Of course, getting that a lot time off I did not know what to assume in regard to how I would truly feel. It’s hard getting that a lot time off and jumping into a pretty huge sequence in opposition to Vegas. But I did truly feel great. The second video game, I consider I struggled a little bit. I was just pretty sore after that 1st video game.”
Q: There are similarities concerning you and Donskoi, now a Kraken. Do you consider you can swap Donskoi as a 3rd-line winger and bumper dude on the electric power perform?
OC: “I consider I have the potential to perform it. Of course, we have a large amount of great men on the electric power perform, even though. I would will need to function on a bunch of items in get to put myself in that situation, but in regard to the 3rd line, I consider I have the potential. But we have a deep workforce.”
Q: Seven Avs who played all ten playoff online games have moved on. What do you consider of their replacements?
OC: “I’m thrilled to see what (Darren) Helm has to deliver. I know he’s a speedy-skating forward with a forechecking mentality. He’s a base-6 forward for a purpose — just getting smart in all sides of the video game, a two-way forward. And then we get (defenseman Ryan) Murray on the back end, furthermore (Kurtis) MacDermid, (goalie Darcy) Kuemper. I consider men are genuinely thrilled about the gamers coming in.”
Q: You seemed to be a restricted, cohesive workforce past season. Do you consider the chemistry will be equally strong in 2021-22?
OC: “Every 12 months you have to hope for that. Bringing back Landy (captain Gabe Landeskog) was huge. He’s obviously a huge glue dude. I consider administration does a great occupation of advertising lifestyle, exact with the coaching personnel. We have great leaders in there. I consider lifestyle is huge. You want to perform for each other extra. Which is what successful teams have — every single successful workforce has a great lifestyle. I know we had that past 12 months and I’m absolutely sure we’ll go forward following season.”