The Colorado Avalanche are absolutely destroying any expectations set for them early this season. The Avs are coming off a franchise worst season with a mere 22 wins, 56 loses, and 4 OT loses. In 2016-17, the Avalanche’s leading scorer was Nathan Mackinnon with 53 points. They ended up with the 4th overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft and selected future star defenseman Cale Makar. GM Joe Sakic has certainly turned this team around, starting with the sendoff of Matt Duchene and the blowup of many young superstars.
The Avs started the season 8-6-0 before the blockbuster trade that sent Matt Duchene to the Ottawa Senators in return for Vlad Kamenev and Samuel Girard from the Nashville Predators. This season, Colorado went 43-30-9, good enough for 95 points on the season and the 2st Wildcard spot in the West. Nathan Mackinnon has also led the team in points this season with a career high 97 points; his previous season high was 63 points in 2013-14, his rookie year. Now with 1st line minutes, Mackinnon has solidified the Avs spot as a premier team to watch alongside former 10th overall pick, Mikko Rantanen, and captain, Gabriel Landeskog. In 2016-17, Colorado only scored 166 total goals, but had 257 goals this season. Lucky for them, they have become a premier offense in the league but goaltending may come back to bite them. Unfortunately, starting goalie, Semyon Varlamov went down with an injury March 30th versus the Chicago Blackhawks and will miss at least the 1st round. Varly leads the Avs in Wins with 24 but backup Jonathan Bernier has stepped up in a big way. Bernier has started in 34 games and appeared in a total of 37 this season. The former Maple Leaf has a season record of 19-13-3 with a .913 Save Percentage while backstopping the Avs. With the starter out, Colorado and Jonathan Bernier will have their hands full in round 1 as they take on the Presidents Trophy winning Nashville Predators.
The Colorado Avalanche came in looking like Joe Sakic was about to clean house, especially after Matt Duchene’s trade request. Oddly enough, Duchene was quoted saying, “I wanted to play playoff hockey”. The Avs are in prime position to quietly sneak past Nashville while Duchene’s Senators are 28th in the league. The main component of the Avalanche roster is the youth. As the speedy youth movement takes over the NHL, Colorado is leading the way as one of the younger teams. Headlined by Nathan Mackinnon, and 21-year-old Mikko Rantanen, who has had the quietest 84 point campaign ever. The Avs also showcase college free agent, Alexander Kerfoot, who finished 5th on team in points with 43 while averaging just under 13.5 minutes of ice time. The only trouble the Avs might have is a lack of veteran leadership during the playoffs. The majority of this team has never been to the playoffs, and leadership played its role for every one of the past champions. Pittsburgh had Crosby, Chicago had Toews, Boston had Chara, LA had Kopitar, etc. The Avalanche are going to need someone to step up and provide that veteran leadership, especially if they go down in a series. The struggle with veteran leadership takes a huge hit while 30 year old defenseman Erik Johnson is sidelined for 5 more weeks with a fractured patella (kneecap). Without Johnson in their top 4, Samuel Girard will have many more eyes on him for multiple reasons. Girard was traded to Colorado from Nashville during the Kyle Turris-Matt Duchene trade and could be looking for revenge after being traded early this season. The 5’10 defenseman finished his rookie year with 23 points in 73 games, including a goal in the victory over St. Louis that sent the Avalanche to the playoffs. This all ties back to the youth movement in Colorado that will need to prove key in order to take down Pekka Rinne and Nashville.