We’re taking some time this week during the a Stanley Cup Final that once again does not include a team from the Central Division to look around at the Blackhawks’ primary competition and set the table for the offseason that’s quickly approaching. Today, we turn our attention to the Colorado Avalanche, who have some big questions heading into the draft and free agency.
After a strong first round win, off-ice drama impacted their postseason and a second-round exit leads them into a summer with some big decisions coming for a team with championship aspirations.
Avalanche 2023-24 By the Numbers
2023-24 Record: 50-25-7 – 107 points (3rd in the Central Division)
2024 Playoffs: Lost in second round
2023-24 Projected Cap Space: $15,916,250
Head Coach: Jared Bednar
General Manager: Chris MacFarland
2023-24 Stats
Goals For/Game: 3.34 (11th in the NHL)
Goals Against/Game: 2.72 (9)
Power Play Pct: 24.5 (6)
Penalty Kill Pct: 79.0 (17)
Avalanche Offseason Outlook
Notable 2024 UFAs: Andrew Cogliano, Jonathan Drouin, Sean Walker, Brandon Duhaime, Yakov Trenin, Joel Kiviranta, Jack Johnson, Caleb Jones
Notable 2024 RFAs: Casey Mittelstadt
2024 Draft Capital:
First Round (No. overall): 24
Second Round: none
Third Round: none
Fourth Round: COL
Fifth Round: ANA, SEA
Sixth Round: COL
Seventh Round: COL, NSH
Avalanche Offseason Headlines
Where exactly are we in the “window” for the Avalanche? They finished the 2023-24 season with exactly one fewer win (an OT loss) than they did the previous year — when they won the Central — and finished in third. And there are some enormous questions about their roster coming. The Avs also have only one pick in the first three rounds of the NHL draft again this year.
It sounds like captain Gabriel Landeskog wants to come back next season, but he’s been out for two full years. And the future is absolutely uncertain for forward Valeri Nichushkin, who was banned for six months for violating the league’s the Players Assistance Program. That’s two consecutive postseasons in which he disappeared while having a significant impact on the outcome of games.
Can they find a mix that works to get back to the top of the Western Conference? What do they do with Nichushkin? And, if they can re-sign Mittelstadt, how do they fill out their roster without a lot of available cap space?
