Colorado Avalanche season could drastically change if key player goes down

The Colorado Avalanche appear to have everything figured out this offseason. The club has put together a solid roster led by two all-world players in Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

But the club’s success isn’t dependent solely on MacKinnon and Makar. It hinges on the club’s depth. Top-six forwards Brock Nelson, Artturi Lehkonen, and Valeri Nichushkin look like the real deal.

That enviable core looks like it’s ready to lead the Avalanche back to the Stanley Cup Final. But one player stands out as the most important in the group: Captain Gabriel Landeskog.

Landeskog made a triumphant return to NHL ice last spring. He suited up for the Avs during the Stanley Cup playoffs and didn’t look out of place. It looked like he hadn’t missed a day after spending nearly three years on the shelf with a knee injury.

That situation, unfortunately, was a small sample size. Heading into this upcoming season, questions linger about Landeskog’s ability to resist the grind of a full 82-game season. It won’t matter if he needs rest or misses games here and there to rest and recover. If anything, it would be startling to see him play the full slate of games.

As long as Landeskog does not miss extended periods, the Avalanche will be fine.

But what if Landeskog’s knees give up on him? What if it turns out his body can’t handle the grind?

If the Avalanche lose Landeskog for an extended period, that could become a major problem. Again, if it’s just a matter of rest, it won’t be a big deal. But if Landeskog heads back to LTIR, the Avs could have a major issue on their hands.

Colorado Avalanche might need to shop for a top-six winger

The worst-case scenario would be Gabriel Landeskog going down with an injury for the entire season. If Landeskog goes down towards the end of the season, the Avalanche would face the playoffs with a hole in their top six.

That situation could force the club to trade for a top-six winger. But there may not be one available at the trade deadline. And if there was, the price could be astronomical.

Yes, the Avalanche have internal options to replace Landeskog in the event of an injury. Ross Colton could jump into a top-six wing spot. He’s done it before and could do it again. There are also younger players who could get a shot, like Nikita Prischepov and Danil Gushchin. But they’re far from a sure thing.

Unless the Colorado Avalanche have a secret contingency plan, the kind that is contained in a book hidden behind a “break glass in case of emergency” box, the Avalanche could head into the postseason with a gaping hole in their lineup.