Dr. John Mitchell: Trustworthy Center for the Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche’s John Mitchel should have a PhD in centerman duties, he’s so smart.

If you aren’t a regular on the site, I’ll let you in on a little secret — I hate the Avalanche defense. It’s nothing personal. The systems and I just don’t click on an emotional level. Add in the offensive-minded players who often don’t want to play the defensive side of the puck to begin with, and well, we’ve had a rocky relationship.

However there is one player who I’ve had my eye on the last couple years. He doesn’t have the potent offensive ability of Nathan MacKinnon or the defensive abilities of former center Ryan O’Reilly, yet I’ve found myself enamored with him regardless. His constant…