Will the real Colorado Avalanche please stand up?

In the two years since they won the Stanley Cup, not much has gone according to plan. Despite boasting a stacked roster led by defending Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon and routine Norris Trophy finalist Cale Makar, the Avs haven’t been able to reach the same level of postseason success, even as the wins racked up during the regular season. In 2023, they were bounced in a shocking upset by the sophomore Seattle Kraken in the first round, and in 2024, the Dallas Stars knocked Colorado out in the second.

But even through those struggles, the Avs completely had the Vancouver Canucks number last season. Colorado swept the season series against Vancouver by winning all three contests, making them one of just two teams to accomplish that feat (the other, somewhat surprisingly, being the Philadelphia Flyers).

The Avalanche have every reason to still be competing for championships. Beyond MacKinnon and Makar, Jared Bednar’s bench boasts a staggering amount of talent, from Mikko Rantanen to Devon Toews to Artturi Lehkonen. Colorado GM Chris MacFarland and President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic have assembled a high-scoring and defensively sound roster despite losing key pieces from the 2022 Cup team, like Nazem Kadri and perennially injured Gabriel Landeskog. This offseason is a prime example; the team made no splash signings, but MacFarland and Sakic added Erik Brannstrom and Oliver Kylington to their defence corps for less than $2 million.

The only real question mark on the roster is in goal, where Alex Georgiev has proven to be an inconsistent presence in net. Georgiev had the distinction of leading the NHL in wins for the second straight year but did so despite a jarring .897 save percentage. If Georgiev can bounce back and recapture his confidence from a season prior, the Avalanche would probably feel a lot better about going into 2024-25 with a tandem of him and Justus Annunen.

Like the Oilers in the Pacific, the Canucks should be treating the Avalanche as a measuring stick for future success. Vancouver certainly has them beat in the netminder department and can even see Colorado’s franchise defenceman by raising them one Quinn Hughes. But beyond those spots on paper, the Avalanche have the edge offensively and on the rest of the blue line.

Where the Canucks might be able to find a weak spot in the Avs’ forward depth, which, thanks to cap limitations, is looking a little weaker than previous iterations. And after Patrik Allvin spent the offseason beefing up his club’s bottom six, the Canucks at least have a real opportunity to break the goose egg that the Avalanche handed them last year.

2nd in the Central Division, 4th in the Western Conference

December 16th @ Rogers Arena

February 4th @ Rogers Arena

April 10th @ Ball Arena