With Varlamov on trial, Patrick Roy almost played goal for Avalanche
When a Hall of Fame goaltender like Patrick Roy is an NHL team’s head coach, one expects to hear calls for him to suit up and play when its goaltending situation becomes problematic.
The goaltending situation for the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, as they practiced in San Jose? Problematic.
Semyon Varlamov, the No. 1 star in the NHL last week, was left behind in Denver to begin a civil trial, as his former girlfriend is suing him following his 2013 arrest for kidnapping and assault. Prosecutors never filed the kidnapping charge, and dropped the assault charge two months later. Evgeniya Vavrinyuk testified on Tuesday regarding that alleged assault. Varlamov was never suspended from by the Avalanche or the NHL.
Varlamov's absence left the team with two netminders: Calvin Pickard, Valramov’s backup, and Roman Will, who was summoned from the American Hockey League.
But Pickard was feeling under the weather and didn’t attend practice. So that left Will in one net … and Patrick Roy, aforementioned Hall of Fame goalie and head coach of the Avs, in the other practice net.
Alas, our hopes and dreams of a Reggie Dunlop-esque player/coach performance from Patrick Roy will not come to pass against the San Jose Sharks – he ruled himself out as emergency backup goalie, saying Pickard was expected to be OK to play in some capacity on Tuesday night.
From Terry Frei of the Denver Post:
"No, I'm not," Roy said. "Not a chance. Pick's going to be fine. He already said he was feeling better. He just needs some fluid in his body. He should be ready for tonight's game."
Roy said Varlamov will not be joining the team for their game against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night, and that Pickard could play both nights. So maybe there’s still a slim chance we get to see Patrick Roy suit up for a regular season game, only trailing Martin Brodeur by 140 wins.
Which is another way of saying, “isn’t it going to be awesome to see Patrick Roy pull rank and start himself ahead of Roman Will?”
If not, we’ll just have to wait until next month’s alumni game between the Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings before their Stadium Series game.
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
