It’s the time of year when predictions start flying around and thoughts concerning the Colorado Avalanche are no exception. We’ve identified three reasons why the squad might not repeat their 121 point, Presidents’ Trophy winning season and three reasons why the Avalanche could actually improve in the 2026-27 campaign.
3 reasons why Colorado will regress
Jackie: The easiest answer is that the Avalanche simply won’t reach 121 points again. It’s very difficult to win the Presidents’ Trophy and there hasn’t been a repeat winner since the Washington
Capitals did so a decade ago. If this squad simply just gets to 120 points and has a fantastic regular season again then technically they have declined even if it’s not in spirit. But really, the Avalanche might not need to chase the regular season as hard and could take a step back as they manage the upcoming 84 game schedule.
Jess: I actually don’t think this reason will be a massive issue at all, but it is one that’s worth talking, and that would be speed. Now, that sounds ridiculous to say that their speed could be a reason they decline, given who Colorado’s top players are; I’m more so talking about some of the guys at the bottom of the lineup, i.e., Brent Burns and Nic Roy, for example. Again, I don’t think this is going to be a massive issue at all, but it’s very possible that guys like that who are a bit slower than the Avs would like them to be can get exploited in matchups during games, costing the team some goals and/or games potentially. That being said, there are plenty of ways to mitigate that potential effect, like pairing those players with teammates who are quicker who can help compensate for that factor.
Jackie: Even if the Avalanche can overcome their emerging speed issues, we can’t ignore the aging of this roster. PuckPedia currently has Colorado as the third oldest team at an average of 30.5 but that generously includes 21-year-old Gavin Brindley as the 13th forward and doesn’t account for Nazem Kadri turning 36 during the first week of the regular season. There are currently six Avalanche players aged 34 and older including Burns, Kadri, Brock Nelson, Jaden Schwartz, Josh Manson and Scott Wedgewood plus Gabe Landeskog will join that group in November. It’s been documented production begins to decline in the mid-30s not to mention injury risk and the aforementioned speed aspect. Banking on even status quo with this group is a bit optimistic.
3 reasons why Colorado will improve
Jess: This might be the most obvious reason, but your core is still intact and will remain so for the next few years as well (minus Artturi Lehkonen whose contract status past this season is up in the air). All your core guys- Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas, Devon Toews, Brock Nelson, Gabe Landeskog and Nazem Kadri are signed for this season and beyond. Now, you can go and find complimentary pieces between now and the playoffs, but you once again don’t have to take any massive swings to remake the team at the trade deadline, as you didn’t need to make any during free agency back in July either. There are a lot more complementary players out there than there are true stars, and not having to go find those stars cause they’re signed already is something you don’t have to worry about for a good long while. There’s also something to be said for knowing how to handle the long regular season as a contending team. This team knows what it takes during the regular season and that holds a lot of value. The core of the team has played together several years and with hopefully fewer changes in-season can lend to better cohesion heading into the post-season. Some other teams who may be vying for a playoff spot haven’t been here as much as Colorado has, such as the Utah Mammoth, for example, so that experience is something the Avs have to lean to their benefit.
Jackie: The biggest factor as to if the Avalanche can take a step forward is if the youth movement actually works out. If the organization can get a middle-six scoring forward to stick in that role with the production to match then that’s one less roster hole they have to worry about at the trade deadline and beyond. There wouldn’t be as much pressure on the aging roster and some players could be slotted on a lower line where they could be more affective for longer. Not the mention the financial benefits for a team that has to fit in the $20.4 million payday for Cale Makar moving forward. But for the here and now, the rejuvenation and spark some young impact players could provide really could propel the Avalanche forward in the coming season.
Jackie: Another factor the team surely is banking on is coming improvement to their 27th ranked 17.1% success power play from the 2025-26 season. The man advantage has been an ongoing source of frustration for years but if Colorado could get back into the top 10 of the league again would help their chances of improvement. There were signs of life as in the playoffs and with Kadri’s addition the Avalanche got back up to a 20.6% conversion rate, though they only scored once on it in the Vegas series. A threatening power play unit would certainly go a long way to maintaining or improving any offensive competitive advantage the team has.
