2026 Season Preview: Colorado Avalanche
A favorite in 2026, the Avalanche ran into injuries and ran out of gas against Vegas in the Conference Final. Can they get back to the promised land?
It’s only been four years since the Colorado Avalanche last won the Stanley Cup, but I’m sure for Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and everyone else on that team that has been there since 2022, it’s felt like a lifetime. The Avalanche lost some important pieces to their lineup in order to stay compliant with the salary cap, but their corresponding moves leave them in a place to remain competitive heading into this season.
2025-26 Outcome
Regular Season Results: 55-16-11
Postseason Results: Defeated Los Angeles 4-0, Defeated Minnesota 4-1, Lost to Vegas 4-0
After finishing the regular season with 121 points and just 16 regulation losses, the Avalanche became the latest victims of the President's Trophy curse, as their run came to an earlier end than desired at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights. It felt like after swapping Samuel Girard for Brett Kulak and bringing back Nazem Kadri that the Avalanche were looking to make a serious push, but this postseason went down as an underachievement.
With an offseason to get healthy and recoup, do the Avalanche have what it takes to get back into Cup contention status?
Who’s In and Who’s Out
Much like the Chicago Blackhawks, the Avalanche kept their offseason moves pretty linear. In two separate trades with the Nashville Predators, they turned Ross Colton and Jack Drury into Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L’Heureux. This gave them a little more salary cap flexibility and helped them get younger. Are they better off that way? I like both Svechkov and L’Heureux’s a lot, and it’s certainly the better long-term move. In the meantime, I don’t see it being make-or-break in terms of their current roster construction.
After getting a bundle of draft picks from Columbus in exchange for Valeri Nichushkin, the Avalanche went out and signed Jaden Schwartz in free agency. Depending on how they decide to run their lines, this could force a guy like Nicolas Roy into a top-six role, but having Schwartz as your likely third line left winger really spreads depth throughout your lineup.
With the surplus of centers the Avalanche have, swapping Ivan Ivan for a winger with untapped potential in Fabian Lysell seems like a worthwhile move to make. Lastly, Noah Juulsen and Vinnie Hinostraza are both solid depth pieces for a contending team to have as extra players so tidy business there.
