We’ve passed the halfway point of The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash series – our rankings of the off-season of every NHL team. In these files, we’re examining each team’s lineup additions, departures, hirings and firings, and judging which teams improved, which teams got worse, and which teams stayed the same. And in this particular file, we’re focused on the team that came in 15th overall in our rankings – the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avalanche made a slew of roster changes last season, and while Colorado did lose their first-round series against Dallas, there’s still many things you have to like about where they are as a team today. Of course, there’s superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, there’s also a goalie tandem that was one of the NHL’s better duos, and the Avs have depth throughout the roster.
As you’ll see below, the Avalanche didn’t make a lot of noise this summer. But the reality is that Colorado GM Chris MacFarland made all the moves he needed to last season. When you deal with a salary cap conundrum by trading an elite winger in Mikko Rantanen for an above-average forward in Martin Necas, you’ve set the table for many more solid seasons.
But before we take a bigger look at the Avs as a team, let’s look at the few additions MacFarland made to his roster.
Additions
Brent Burns (D)
The Breakdown: The Avalanche had one of the deeper defense corps in the league last season, with Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, Samuel Girard and Sam Malinski forming an elite back end. But MacFarland raised the bar for Colorado’s blueliners by signing veteran star and former Carolina Hurricanes D-man Brent Burns to a one-year, $1-million contract.
At 40 years old, Burns is the oldest player in the league. And while his offensive numbers have dropped steadily in recent years, Burns’ snarl and size makes him a valuable, experienced hand. Something tells us Burns had a number of teams vying for him this summer, so getting him at an incredible discount is a huge win for the Avalanche.
So, if you’re saying “that’s it?” to this Avs acquisition, you’re underestimating Burns and the Avs’ all-around depth. But with Burns anchoring Colorado’s third defense pairing, you’re sealing off any real weakness in the Avalanche’s defense. And when you take into account the Avalanche’s depth at forward, it’s clear this is a team that didn’t have to make many additions to still be one of the Western Conference’s very best teams.
Departures
Charlie Coyle (C), Jonathan Drouin (LW), Joel Kiviranta (LW), Ryan Lindgren (D), Erik Johnson (D)
The Breakdown: Yes, the Avs allowed a handful of veteran contributors to leave via free-agency – most notably, center Coyle, who signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, winger Drouin, who signed with the New York Islanders, and defenseman Lindgren, who joined the Seattle Kraken – but you have to look at Colorado’s team through MacFarland’s eyes. And that means looking at a lineup that gets a huge boost with the return to action of captain Gabriel Landeskog, which is like making a major trade with nothing but cap space to pay for it.
Meanwhile, the Avalanche’s few moves have freed up approximately $3.34 million in cap space, and you’d better believe MacFarland is going to use every penny of it as he goes to the trade market at some point this year. If MacFarland’s moves last season are any indication, he’s not a GM afraid to make tough moves and swing for the fences in doing so. If you’re an Avs fan, you have to be happy with his job performance thus far.
The Bottom Line
The Avalanche play in arguably the NHL’s toughest division in the Central Division. With tough teams like the Stars, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues all around them, the Avs have to be at their best if they hope to secure home-ice advantage as a top-two seed next season.
That said, we’re still feeling very good about Colorado’s chances to do great things next year. MacKinnon is very much a beast still in his prime, and the same goes for Makar. MacFarland may have a cap problem when Necas’ contract expires at the end of the coming season, but we expect MacFarland will deal with it, either at the trade deadline or well before it. Necas’ contract demands may push him out of Colorado’s cap framework, but even then, we’d expect MacFarland will move Necas and get back important parts in return.
Otherwise, this Avalanche team is the perfect example of not needing to make a boatload of trades to be ranked above-average in our summer splash ranks. Colorado did what they needed to do last season, and they’ve now been given the opportunity to settle in as a larger group and press forward past some of the league’s best organizations.
The Avs are slick, speedy and skilled to a depth that’s the envy of many teams. And if and when Colorado does go on another deep playoff run, no one will say they didn’t see it coming.
Summer Splash Rankings
15. Colorado Avalanche
16. Ottawa Senators
17. Boston Bruins
18. Edmonton Oilers
19. Minnesota Wild
20. Seattle Kraken
27. Dallas Stars
28. Calgary Flames
30. Winnipeg Jets
32. Buffalo Sabres
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