The Colorado Avalanche feel like they have one destination this season.
And that’s another date with the Stanley Cup.
It’s been a roller coaster of year, after all GM Chris MacFarland made nine trades, but where the squad landed is in a great spot.
Sure, it was hard to say goodbye to Mikko Rantanen. And yes, Valeri Nichushkin must stay healthy both on and off the ice. But everything is coming up aces right now for the boys in burgundy and blue.
The Avs have won eight of their last nine games. The only loss was in a shootout to Minnesota on a back-to-back. The additions are fitting in nicely, and the subtractions are no longer a distraction. This is the group that can throw us our second parade in four years.
Even the oddsmakers agree, giving the Avalanche the third best chance to win the championship. Only the Stars and Panthers have better odds.
Of course, Colorado and Dallas are on a collision course in the first-round of the playoffs. Oh well. What I witnessed on Sunday, a 4-3 OT Avalanche win, was pure domination. Other than a 20-second lapse in the third period, Colorado was the better team. The Stars might want to start booking flights to Cabo in late April.
It all starts with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, two of the five best players in the world. But these Avs are deep. Like, 2022 deep, the last time they hoisted the best trophy in sports.
From Artturi Lehkonen to Nichushkin, to Jonathan Drouin, Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, Ross Colton and more, Colorado can come at you in waves. On defense, Devon Toews is a staple with Makar, Ryan Lindgren has been a great addition, Samuel Girard remains consistent and it’s great to see Erik Johnson back home.
In between the pipes, it’s clear as day that Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood are massive upgrades over Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen. There’s truly not a hole on this roster.
Ball Arena felt like it was hosting a playoff game this weekend. Between Broncos QB Bo Nix being in the house, MacKinnon getting honored for 1,000 career points and the Rantanen reception, there was juice in the place. It might have only been an appetizer, but the postseason can’t get here soon enough.
In looking around the Western Conference, who truly scares you? Anyone? Winnipeg has the most points with 98, but we’ve been there, done that. The Avalanche made goaltender Connor Hellebuyck look pedestrian in a five-game beatdown a season ago.
Vegas? Meh. Edmonton? Meh. The dirty little secret is if Colorado can skate past Dallas in Round 1, they’ve got a very clear path to the Final. A handful of teams in the East, like Florida, Washington and Carolina could be scary, but let’s not forget the Avalanche are 3-0 in their history in championship series. When they reach the Final, the job gets done.
There’s a buzz and energy around this group right now that’s hard to explain. MacKinnon and Makar know they’re in their primes, and they want to start stacking Cups before Father Time inevitably catches up.
So soak it in, Avs fans, a journey we might never forget is about to begin. This team is definitely good enough to win the whole thing. And right now, it feels like they’re poised to do just that.
