There’s no question the Avs have a more talented core than the Leafs with Nathan MacKinnon, Matt Duchene, Landeskog and Tyson Barrie. But being a budget team that operates about $7 million under the cap, Colorado has to save somewhere, and that seems to show up on the third and fourth lines, as well as on the blueline.

Add in a style of play that’s at odds with the way most of the more successful teams are playing, or even a lower-ranked team like Toronto that has made a gigantic swing in the possession game under Mike Babcock, and the Avs just haven’t been getting close to the results they got under Roy in his rookie season.

Which puts executive vice-president of hockey operations Joe Sakic in a delicate spot.

He brought in Roy to bring back the glory in Denver, and the initial results were tremendous. But now, it seems the Avs are swimming against the prevailing current, and Roy either doesn’t want to alter the way the club plays, or can’t with the personnel he has.

-Damien Cox of Sportsnet where you can read more on the Avalanche.