Avalanche
A preview of the 2025-26 NHL season for the Colorado Avalanche, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Brent Burns, Victor Olofsson
Key Departures: Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood, Jonathan Drouin, Ryan Lindgren, Erik Johnson
Overview
“They didn’t have their No. 1 defenseman (Miro Heiskanen) and their best forward (Jason Robertson) and we still lost. I don’t know what we do here.” These words from Avs superstar Nathan MacKinnon following his team’s elimination by the Stars in the opening round of the playoffs. Adding further insult to injury, former Avs star Mikko Rantanen had a hat trick and factored in on all four Dallas goals in the clinching game.
The last time MacKinnon had an outburst after being eliminated was in 2021 when he said, “going into my ninth year and we haven’t won [expletive] yet.” They won the Stanley Cup the following season.
Offense
The Avs were sixth in overall goals scored and power play goals. Last season, Colorado scored four or more goals in 38 of their 49 wins. In addition, Avalanche games averaged a combined 6.23 goals per game which was 10th-highest. MacKinnon finished second in the NHL scoring race and led the Avs in points (116), goals (32), assists (84) and led the league with 320 shots on goal. Last season, MacKinnon had 28 games with at least five shots on goal and another 11 games with four shots on goal.
Captain Gabriel Landeskog played his first game since the 2021-22 season. In five playoff games, he scored a goal and added four assists. Brock Nelson returns after coming to Colorado at the deadline from the Islanders. Nelson had 17 points in 23 games with Colorado. Looking to bolster scoring from their bottom six forwards, Colorado signed free agent Victor Olofsson who scored 15 goals in 56 games last season.
Defense
Cale Makar captured his second Norris Trophy in the past four seasons. His 30 goals were more than five other teams’ blue lines. Makar, along with Devon Toews, accounted for eight of the Avs’ league-high 10 game-winning goals by defensemen.
Colorado signed Brent Burns to a one-year deal. At 40 years of age, he averaged just under 21 minutes per game in the regular season and just under 23 minutes in the playoffs. Burns, Samuel Girard, Sam Malinski and Josh Manson make up the group of six blueliners. The Avalanche only lost 22 games by two goals or more, placing them in top eight for fewest Puck Line losses.
Goaltending
I don’t remember a team doing a complete in-season goalie makeover like Colorado did this past season. Both goalies to open the season struggled to stay above water, beginning the season with Alexander Georgiev and Justus Annunen. Colorado made separate deals bringing in Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. The newcomers cut the Avalanche’s goals against by more than a goal per game. Blackwood had his lowest GAA in five seasons and Wedgewood had his first career sub-2.00 GAA in his career.
Player to Watch
Watching Gabriel Landeskog score his first goal in almost three years was one of the highlights of last season’s playoffs. His dedication and determination embody why he is the captain of the Avalanche. Colorado’s playoff run lasted all of five games and now we all await how he navigates through the upcoming 82-game season. In his 10 NHL seasons when playing at least 50 games, he has scored 20 or more goals nine times.
Outlook
The Avs’ projected point total of 103.5 would require the Avalanche to win one more game than last season. Colorado has a legitimate shot at winning their second Stanley Cup in five seasons, but keep in mind the only time in the Mackinnon era that they made it to not only the Conference Final, but the Stanley Cup Final, was the year they won the Cup in 2022.
My best bet is Colorado Over 103.5 points.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 103.5
To Make the Playoffs: -1000
To Miss the Playoffs: +600
To Win the Central Division: +215
To Win the Western Conference: +450
To Win the Stanley Cup: +900
2024-25 Recap
Record: 49-29-4, 102 points (3rd Central Division)
Over/Under: 40-40-2
Home Favorite: 25-14 // Home Dog: 1-1
Road Favorite: 19-10 // Road Dog: 4-7
Win Score 4 or more: 38 of 49 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 18 of 33
Puck Line Wins: 32 of 49 // Puck Line Losses: 22 of 33
Front End Back-to-Back: 6-6 // Back End Back-to-Back: 6-6
Points Leader: Nathan MacKinnon – 116
Goal Leaders: Nathan MacKinnon – 32
Assist Leader: Nathan MacKinnon – 84
Shots on Goal Leader: Nathan MacKinnon – 320
Blocked Shots Leader: Cale Makar – 128
Depth Chart
Forwards
Artturi Lehkonen / Nathan MacKinnon / Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog / Brock Nelson / Valeri Nichushkin
Victor Olofsson / Jack Drury / Ross Colton
Zakhar Bardakov / Ivan Ivan / Joel Kiviranta
Defense
Devon Toews / Cale Makar
Samuel Girard / Brent Burns
Sam Malinski / Josh Manson
Goalies
Mackenzie Blackwood / Scott Wedgewood
Power Play Unit 1
Gabriel Landeskog, Martin Necas, Arturri Lehkonen, Nathan Mackinnon, Cale Makar
