The 2023-24 season was a rollercoaster experience for the Colorado Avalanche. The 2022 Stanley Cup champions have been superb, ending with 107 factors but have been third within the stacked Central Division. Valeri Nichushkin was suspended in the midst of a sizzling playoff run. Oh, and Bowen Byram was shipped out for Casey Mittelstadt close to the deadline.
One take a look at the depth chart for the 2024-25 season reveals that there are at the moment extra questions than solutions. There may be potential for issues to go fairly proper for the Avalanche, however what if a number of of the eggs of their basket break? Listed below are a number of of the worst-case eventualities dealing with the Avalanche in 2024-25.
Casey Mittelstadt Doesn’t Break Out
Many masking the Avalanche count on Mittelstadt to have his finest season as a professional in 2024-25. Taking part in for a disappointing Buffalo Sabres outfit, he grew to become arguably their finest ahead in 2023-24.
Now, he slots in because the second-line middle behind Nathan MacKinnon. Mittelstadt will little doubt get pleasure from time with the highest energy play unit, which might solely stand to spice up his totals even additional. However is an excessive amount of being requested of a participant who has been a viable on a regular basis NHLer for therefore little time?
The knock on Mittelstadt previous to the 2022-23 season – arguably his ‘breakout’ – was an absence of energy and drive. He bought pushed off the puck typically. His palms might dazzle however he merely couldn’t put it collectively.
A 50-60-point season can be completely fantastic for Mittelstadt wherever else at another time. However for an Avalanche crew that desperately wants extra scoring in its prime six, he wants to offer extra to ensure that the Avalanche to actually contend.
Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin Don’t Return
Maybe the largest wild card proper now’s up for debate. Gabriel Landeskog has been out for 2 seasons (and counting) whereas recovering from knee surgical procedure. Nichushkin started a compulsory six-month suspension in Might for substance points. Each are essential to the Avalanche prime six.
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Landeskog’s development is sort of regarding. He’s optimistic about coming again however there was no timetable set. He’s a competitor and the captain of the crew, so he’ll little doubt really feel like he can come again. However it could be time to face the very actual risk that he’s accomplished. That could be a large loss for the franchise on and off the ice.
Nichushkin, in the meantime, presents a deeper concern. Even when he returns and is again to kind, can the crew belief him anymore? He has handled not-so-secret substance points for a very long time now. He left the Avalanche with out their most efficient purpose scorer in the midst of the collection in opposition to the Dallas Stars.
Even when Nichushkin does return this season, he must earn that belief again. That could be a steep climb and will doubtlessly current extra points for the Avalanche in the long term.
The Defensive Experiments Fail
The Avalanche prime 4 has been set in stone for a while. Cale Makar and Devon Toews make up arguably one of the best defensive pairing within the NHL. Samuel Girard and Josh Manson are constant presences however include their downsides.
The crew took a flyer on a pair of younger, proficient defensemen on a budget. Erik Brannstrom was regarded as the following nice Ottawa Senators puck-moving defenseman however by no means panned out. Accidents and inconsistencies have stored Oliver Kylington from being as impactful because the Calgary Flames had hoped for.
Each are robust skaters and may present offensive flourish. The secret’s being strong sufficient in their very own finish that they don’t turn out to be a legal responsibility. The Avalanche struggled with Jack Johnson and Sean Walker as their third pairing and there’s a distinctive lack of a bodily presence other than Makar. Whereas the crew is nice defensively, there are points holding high-danger probabilities down. This pairing doesn’t appear to be it’s going to assist enhance these numbers.
Is the Window Closing?
It looks like a lot has modified because the Avalanche hoisted the Cup in 2022. The foundational items are nonetheless there however the supporting forged is much weaker. There are far too many questions for the crew to be a official contender this season.
There isn’t any query about whether or not the Avalanche will make the playoffs. Making a deep run and extra is a wholly completely different concern. And it’s one the Avalanche may not have the solutions to.
