Avalanche Will be Favorites Again for 2025 Cup, So How do They Get There? 

Not losing one of their best players for 2 years in a row in the playoffs would help. Figuring out Landeskog situation.

“If you’re excited for this year’s draft… why?” 😂😂😂😂

As a diehard Avs fan: -It was noticeable how much the Avalanche missed Gabe Landeskog's leadership the last 2 seasons. When Nate MacKinnon gets frustrated (especially in the playoffs), Landeskog has always been able to temper that fire. If he were able to come back at all next season, it would solve a lot of those problems. It doesn't matter if he played on the first or fourth line. -They really missed Logan O'Connor in the playoffs. That third line wasn't nearly as effective after he left the lineup. A healthy LOC will be a big boost to their bottom six. -If they can find a way to re-sign some combination of Jonathan Drouin, Yakov Trenin and Brandon Duhaime (all fit in very well after their respective arrivals in Denver), they'll be in pretty good shape forward wise and should be able to fill any other holes in the lineup from within. -We didn't see much from Nikolai Kovalenko, but I was super impressed with the limited minutes he did play and I wouldn't be surprised if he made the opening night roster in 2024. -I would really like to see Keaton Middleton get a legitimate chance to play actual NHL minutes for the Avalanche. He's played great for the Eagles the last couple seasons and the Avalanche have vacancies on defense. -Justus Annunen was awesome after his callup and with his extension I'm hopeful he'll get around 30-35 starts to help ease Georgie's workload.

Logan O'Connor's return, Landeskog's possible return, and a possible Drouin resigning may make this team better. Kovalenko and Ritchie developing into legit NHL players will be ideal. Georgiev-Annuen is good. Jack Johnson returning would be a good cheap move. They need to resign Mittelstadt, he's their future 2C and he looked good in the playoffs.

That Nichuskin thing....I hope he gets head straight, but he basically fucked his team two years in a row in the playoffs. I can't see that sitting well with management or the locker room.

2022 team had Kadri, Landeskog and Nichuskin. It's very difficult to find same level again and keep that team together.

Being someone who roots for the Avs, i cant be mad about how this season played out. Sure you want to have a deeper run but Dallas is a wagon right now. I feel like the window is open but they have work to do if they want to be amongst the cream of the crop. Resign Mittlestadt is the biggest goal and i think you need to consider Vals contract for termination. Cant have that type of distraction regardless of skill. Id like to see Walker back if possible. As for Landeskog id be shocked if he plays again. He hasnt in two seasons. Assuming he retires, make MacKinnon captain. I think they will be fine, but its clear the Stars run the Central now

I’m thinking they’re gonna be even better next year. Landy should be back, Annunen should take a huge load off of Georgiev, and Mittelstadt should continue to develop.

Thanks for the good summary. I was surprised, however, that you did not include Nikolai Kovalenko in your "on the way" discussion. He arrived late in the season from the KHL and was injured; therefore, he only played in one or two games. But the potential he showed in the KHL has a lot of Avalanche fans excited to see what he can do here. I think there is a good chance he makes the team out of camp this fall, and if not, he'll be an early call-up from the Eagles.

Avalanche should try to sign Necas. Him alongside Rantanen and MacKinnon would be insane.

Well done, thank you!

It really makes you wonder if the Jets would have had a bit of a chance if Nichushkin had been suspended and tested two weeks prior? I know they didn't look good, but he literally had seven goals in five games, and two of those games were clear wins because of his performance.

Nichuskin will be in Edmonton this fall doing lines with Ken Holland

The window is most definitely open, the avs will be a strong team contending for the cup for the next five years or so IMO

Thanks for the breakdown! However, I would like to point out the following: 1. Colorado has a $15.9M cap hit. 2. There are now 12 players on the roster under contract: 6 forwards, including Kovalenko! (Kovalenko is clearly not NHL level at the moment) + 4 defensemen + 2 goalies. 3. If Landeskog, who is not going to retire ($7M, now at LTIR) + O'Connor (he has one more year on his contract at 1M, now at LTIR) will be added to the roster by the beginning of the season, it will result in $7M in the roster payroll with 14 players. 4. What Colorado plans to do with Nichushkin with his 5-year contract at $6.125M/year is unclear. Probably only to buy him out, as they can't unilaterally break the contract (MacFarland himself confirmed at the press conference that they can't break the contract). 5. The question remains: “The Roster doesn't even have 23 players for the season with the money available. Who will they sell from their top players this offseason to somehow “unload” the payroll and fill the team with players from the AHL (players will definitely have injuries during the season)?” Conclusion: Colorado can still be considered a contender, but judging by the roster that they will have for the season - problems are expected. Besides, the core players are not getting any younger.

If they get Sidney Crosby, they will have a pretty good shot.

You have more faith in my team then I do. Have a feeling we are gonna enter a slight rebuild. Val will never play for the avs again. Have a feeling that's the same for Landey. 2 seasons is forever in the NHL.

The arm chair gms in this comment section crack me up ☠️ if any of these gms in this comment section got their way the Colorado Avalanche will be dead last next year, all im gonna say is i trust McFarland and Sakic to make the right decisions and as far as i see it as long as bednar is coach and the this core is still here the avalanche are Stanley Cup conteners

They need more scoring depth. There's a massive gap in points per game after their 4 (now 3) big guns. They have zero chance of making another Stanley Cup run when opposing teams only have to shut down one line and stay out of the penalty box. It's not easy to do, but the Stars had no problem putting out their 4th line against MacKinnon and co.

Goodness, a lot a former Stars on that team.

Imo - Nichushkin gotta get fired into the sun. - Landy gotta come back, even if its in the bottom 6, as long as his knee can handle the stress, and he can actually ramp up to normal league speed. - Gotta replace older contracts on bottom 6/bottom pair like JJ, that's where the Avs have been cooked every year (outside of 22') - Gotta have playoff Georgie rather than Reg. Season Georgie. Juice helped and can be a solid backup.

Clearly missing Landeskog as that final elite piece. Losing Nichushkin was terrible for them in the series against Dallas. Georgiev did well against Dallas so proved me kind of wrong. But I still think they'll struggle winning the cup with him as the starter.

Val kinda has them in a bind. I bet they keep him (which hurts me to agree with but I do) and Gabe questions should be resolved by the beginning of next season. All future moves are completely dependent on these 2 gentlemen IMO. Keep Georgiev and grab another good Defenseman. Then go through the playoffs without any gut punches and the AVS should be a damn good contender.

2025 prediction: The NHL will make a lot of moeny next year, and gambling will be such an enormous part of it all that I won't be bothered to watch.

The Stars dominated with the 2-1-2 formation. It was obvious Colorado's gameplan was to feed MacKinnon and let him dangle down the middle and the Stars picked up on that. What's really concerning is the fact Bednar didn't figure out how to counter the 2-1-2. They just kept dropping back passes to the Center in hopes of an oddman and inevitably did 4 straight games of dump and chase. Also, watching the Avs for 20+ years and they STILL cannot clear the puck from their zone when they need to most. It plagued them in the 90s-00s, in the shitty 2010s and even now.

They’ve kinda turned into what the Caps have become. Difference is the Avs have a core that can still put out elite production.

more depth, movement without puck up and down ice?

As the owner of a framed, signed, Landeskog jersey. I have to believe he’s going to come back and play another 6 years for the Avs.

As an Avs fan, I did like what the Avs did last off-season, but I felt it was too much of a turnover from key guys they couldn't afford. With that turnover, they were able to lock up key players like Colton, Wood, and most likely Mittelstadt. I think Ritche might be able to get a few looks next year, and Trenn may be looked as key interest for Avs going forward

Just a couple small moves and they’re good.

virtually all of their bottom six are UFA’s, preferably they lock up Drouin and Mittelstadt, but how the makeup of their bottom six looks could very well determine how successful they are next year. And then of course there’s the Nichuskin question. I do think that Georgiev needs to play fewer games during the regular season, since he clearly declines towards the end of the regular season, he had a good playoffs bar that one game against Winnipeg, but is that the exception rather than the rule? Lot of questions and tricky cap management coming up for them.

One quick note, the CapFriendly cap space on July 1st does count Landeskog's salary against the cap, but not not Nichushkin's. My guess is that they'll negotiate a contract settlement with Nichushkin that will have some cap hit, but not as bad or as long as a buy out. I do see a path for several prospects to play significant roles with the Avs next year, specifically Malinski, Kovalenko, and Foudy. I wonder if Ritchie will be ready to make the jump to the NHL or will he be forced to waste a year in the OHL. Gulyayev played well in the KHL as an 18 year old D and is under contract there for two more seasons, so he'll be a little while. Of their UFAs, I think you're right abou Johnson and Cogs in that if they want to sign they'll take league min and stay put. Drouin has expressed interest in staying, so i hope they can work that out. Signing Trenin would be a big bonus as well, he was phenomenal after the trade.

It’s gonna be a really pivotal offseason. Re-sign Drouin, get Mittelstadt locked in, get rid of Val, add a new winger, and evaluate if Landy’s ready. I’m not very optimistic, but I do believe in Sakic and CMac!

Maybe this is common feeling, but i see plenty of what-ifs in the team's forwards roster that feel more like gambling than any sound judgement. What if Landeskog comes back? What if Logan O'Connor is healthy for a playoff run? What if Nichushkin gets reinstated and can still play at the level he is paid to? What if Nikolai Kovalenko can produce like he did in the KHL? It seems like there is an awful lot of hedging on the future to just fall into place. I get that there will always be a certain amount of that, but it feels like the Avalanche in particular have been stuck in this limbo of everyone thinking they are contenders despite not showing enough steps to actually be a better team. Mittelstadt was a good start, but is he gonna have a career year like Kadri did? Probably not. Georgiev showed up when he needed to. So while I think it would be interesting to see what the Avalanche could do with a truly elite level goaltender, that's not their weakest area in my opinion.

I think Nichuskin needs to be gone so he doesn’t screw the team over during another run. Also Landy needs to come back in October and if not Makar should be named captain.

What's your thoughts on the middlestad trade? Dallas is definitely the better team. But then I dig deeper. Ryan Johanson is a veteran. He is a big body. He matches up better against Dallas C then Casey. Maybe against an Edm. Beating Wpg I wouldn't take it as a win. Wpg is the pinnacle of mediocrity followed by NYI and even Tor. 1. Landeskog is missed and cannot be replaced 2. Without Byram I don't aeethe blue line having stability. 3. This can all be blamed on Nichuskckin 4. Pretty sure Kadri helped them win the cup so I look back at that trade and I feel like they should of gotten Thompson or Cozens. 5. Then I ask why did they trade newhook. So my analysis here is that after winning the cup, they couldn't get back on track. They need that 2nd line C, figure out the deal with landeskog, and to not trade their youth.

Nathan MacKinnon's 25 points in the playoffs at age 25 is his max! Is that enough to win 2 cups while playing for the same team in the salary ceiling era? No! It's historic! He's already 29 in the new season!

I'm watching this 4 days after the fact. Although Parise has said this was his last season, there has not been any official announcement, and Avalanche fans are still hoping he will change his mind for one more try. We liked him and we can hope, can't we? Until there is an official announcement.......

Makar is the best defenseman since Bobby Orr. No one is as transformational as Orr, but Makar is very good.

This team is a head scratcher...on paper they should be making it to the finals yearly...it's a complete team with strength and balance at both ends of the ice... maybe a bit less depth than Dallas but only one or two players different... Goaltending yeah not their strength but I don't think Georgiev was the reason they lost in the playoffs. His regular season numbers also a bit pedestrian so an upgrade their would certainly bolster their chances though their last cup run Kemper was questionable and they overcame.

They need a captains presence on the ice and they also need to turn the page on Nichushkin. Nobody has replaced what Kadri brought to the Avs . Next season will be interesting .

Took our idols five year to win two 96 and 01. We gotta stay patient they’ll get another one. However idk if we can win without Gabe.

Kovalenko and Malinski have both looked good and will hopefully make the roster and prove their worth, and we also missed LOC in the playoff's this year. Landy's progress sounds promising but we'll have to wait and see. I hope they can find a way to resign Drouin too. It'll be interesting to see what MacFarland and Sakic can work out this summer, they always seem to pull rabbits out of hats! The current cap hit does include Landy and LOC, so there's nearly $15 Million to fill the rest of the roster.

I was a Georgiev fantasy hockey holder for the entire season, I also watched a lot of Avs games, he was not consistent enough. He would constantly let in the first goal, sometimes on the first shot or 2.. his nickname quickly became "Fourgiev" as he would let in 4 goals per game, winning half of those because of course the offense gets going hot at some point.

AVS don't need to buy him out. They can void the contract. The NHLPA will probably have something to say about it but there's a good chance if AVS do want to do that, they will okay.

0:10 Go Avs Go

There are a lot of questions for my Avs right now. If Landy can come back and stay healthy and if Nichushkin can return to be over the addiction for good, those things would go a long way to getting us that next Stanley Cup. Alas those are both unknowns at this point, and the cap crunch is also concerning. Should be an interesting offseason.

I don't know the answer on how to fix it but the Avs can go from being on an absolute heater to taking even a short break and come out looking like they just woke up 10 minutes before the game. I think getting the extended break they did hurt them. I have been a fan of this team for a long time. Unfortunately, it seems to be the new normal. The old rest vs. rust question. This team seems to play better when they are consistently playing. Especially during the playoffs. Even during the regular season, we saw this team come out flat in the 1st & even 2nd periods all too often. Again, how do they fix that? I'm not sure. It has to be fixed, though.

Trouble with looking at Annunen's record is he really only played against lower tier teams (Blackhawks, etc). Ottenger absolutely stole Game 3 and game 6.

I’m guessing you’re saving Vegas for last - even though they got bounced in Round 1 or did I miss that Shannon?

Gabe Landeskog for sure needs to come back!!! The leadership role he plays on and off the ice is underrated.

Should have mentioned that in the 2019 playoff loss against Dallas they lost their #1 and #2 goaltenders, and still pushed Dallas to game 7. Without those injuries who know what could have been.

I don't think the lack of Nuchuskin himself is what cost the Avs any games, but them mental factor of him getting suspended could definitely be seen. You could tell the guys were way off their game and were pissed off in the locker room according to some media. I think they need to work on getting Nichushkin out of the lineup for stability sake. He's a great player currently, but that doesn't mean much if you aren't there, taking up space, and messing with the mentality of the rest of the team. If Landeskog comes back it would be a total game changer and I think the Avs would take the cup. Change of goaltending would be smart if you could get Nichushkin's cap space back via some sort of contractrual out, put that towards goaltending and get your hands on a top-tier guy. Georgiev wasn't bad by any means, but he isn't a goalie you can reliably fall back on. If the Avs have top notch goaltending it would be a terrifying team.

One can only hope that the guys heal up because Stanley giveth and Stanley taketh. We've had a team marred with injuries galore and one player who has f'ed us repeatedly that as much as it sucks to say, I hope they find a way to terminate his contract. He is a liability. Landeskog underwent a crazy surgery that when given how tough hockey can be....would make it hard for a return. The team is in dire need of an on-ice captain. At the very least make MacKinnon one because this season showed how much he was playing that role in pseudo-fashion.

Makar is a forward on the blue line, often coughs up the puck resulting in a goal against. Strong offensive skills, good to mediocre defensive skills, at times, embarrassing defensive skills.

The Nichushkin circus is a real headache

I know the Landeskog and Nichushkin situations are big curveballs, but you cannot expect to go far in the playoffs with Lehkonen and Drouin playing alongside Mackinnon. They desperately need another big winger to help Mackinnon and Rantanen. And potentially more depth down the middle.

If you want to win a cup you NEED A somewhat elite goalie - I honestly think we have Star players -yes. And most important for deep playoff runs is the depth. We need to make our bottom 6 more effective. I hate to say it but I think it’s time to move on from cogs. Losing loc was a big problem bc he has so much grit he’s pretty much a core player. I also think our bottom pair needs some work after walker moves on and Caleb jones definitely needs to go. It’s weird to saying this but I also think there’s a physicality problem to this team especially without landy. Mikko is a big guy and he needs to start acting like it. Eventually you’re gonna have to face teams like the starts who are big and mean. Vegas is the same way. And in the finals even worse in the east coast. Get healthy, add depth stay hungry GOAVSGO

In my mind, seeing Georgiev really struggle the final month of the regular season i wasnt high on him but his play off run, his actual on ice play regardless of stats, was solid. Too many times he was set up to fail against dallas, too many times the team wasnt playing in front of him. I know that the best goalies in the league will be able to overcome "some" of those situations, but georgie isnt the best in the league, but he is good enough for this team, provided we give him the Support that we are "capable" of. As for what I would fix, Nichuskin needs to go. Either work on petitioning to void the contract, or sit on/LTIR assistance program cap relief stuff till he comes back then trade his ass to Utah for pennies on the dollar. I understand that there are things that affect individuals, but I dont think Val wants to help himself at this point. To much in the last 12 months has occurred for me to trust him again. This isnt a business that we can afford to deal with his shit. this is my money, and other fans money being lost because of his antics. Then, sign mittlestadt, he is very capable, then, gut the powerplay coaching and rebuild that front, and get new team psychologists.

The Avs are legit. The Stars were just so deep. Hard to beat.

Avs contenders? possibly.. favorites? I think not

Kovalenko?

The avalanche need i mean need centers that can win faceoffs

What's the point suspending someone over the summer? It's no deterrent at all.....

Be healthy, have off season aqusitions that stick, figure out landy/Val, and get the people you can keep signed done. This is the last year before they will need to do a major retool. I don't see them keeping mikko unless Landy is gone

I'm not a Canucks fan, but they will be Stanley Cup favorites next year.

Goaltending

With a lot of nose powder

I’m pretty sure Val will be back and landy and if they come back we can win we really missed them in the Dallas series if we had val I’m positive it would have been a 7 game series

No one wants to play the Avs! As a Stars fan, from Dallas, I was relieved when the series was over. No easy outs with avs.

Interesting how one team loses and they are at a "crossroads" while another team loses and is a "favorite"

The only major thing you really need to do is to address the need in the middle behind MacKinnon.

They should be good in the west I don’t too to much in the west changes I think in the east Toronto Boston and Tampa will all fall way back

I think their problem is they can't seem to find a high quality goaltender. The last time they really had that was when they had Varlamov, and he was a can of worms like Nichuskin is. Georgiev didn't carry the team at all, and didn't really ever win them games. there were games where Varly would carry the team on his back, but the team struggled to play the sort of defense they have finally been able to muster up lately and play around defensively minded teams. In fact, it seems as though they still struggle with playing that way as their exit this year implies. As impressive as all of their comebacks were, and they were truly exciting, they can't always play from behind either, and that's where goaltending comes in. I think they should call up some of their young players, and let them struggle a bit so they can learn and become experienced, and go out and try to spend money on some goalie depth. I think Georgiev deserves another look based upon his performance in the playoffs but his performance in the regular season warrants having some more viable options. Annunen is ok, he pitched a shut out, but against a...questionable team this year. Their exit was super disappointing this year, but I'm still excited for the future. Watching this team really grow since 2013/2014 has been an experience, for better or for worse.

Two years in a row one of their top 4 players leaves at the end of a playoff series. The Avs tried, but I think that was the nail in the coffin. I hope Nichushkin gets the help he needs but also if I'm one of the core players on the Avalanche I don't want to see him back in the locker room with me.

why would the Avs be favorite for the cup in 2025 makes no sense

If Landeskog had been playing when Benn cheapshotted Toews, Benn wouldn't have finished the series.

If the nuggets lose today then kronke sports will have lost the chance at three titles this weekend. Avs lost, Arsenal fell short and nuggets....

Nichuskin is hurting them

Terminate big Val's contract and have him re-sign at league minimum for a year to compensate for the last two seasons while your team is in the prime of their window for winning cups. Also if you decide to step out of the playoffs it won't matter because of your cap hit. Obviously, won't happen, mostly joking...but as an Avs fan that would be amazing lol Edit: There's probably some rule that prevents this from happening as well

If the Avs got Kadri back that would get them the cup at least according to almost every Avs fan the year they won the cup. And although I’m not necessarily a Colorado fan I’d rather see them do well then other teams especially in there division because I hate Chicago and I want to say I don’t care for Dallas but with there young players coming in I don’t see why you can’t like them.

Will they? Landeskog may be done, so they are essentially looking at the same team as this year, probably minus Nichushkin. Goaltending is still mediocre and there's only one Ullmark available for a lot of suitors. Plus, I don't see Boston trading Ullmark for picks.

+ Landeskog may finally return. + Georgiev got himself together and Annunen looks great. Both are cheap. + Drouin may surprisingly be signed due to situation with Val. + 2C should be solved with Mitts. + Some young talent brewing. + The core is intact. + Management delivered during trade deadline, will go all in again. - Val. :( Can't be replaced. - Landeskog is untested and might retire if things go bad. - 5D and 6D? - Bednar and crew must learn how to face the elite defensive minded teams. Some uncertainties but gut feeling is good!

I don't think they will do anything in the playoffs without either Gabe or Val and im pretty sure both wont play again.

Nichushkin has got to go and needs to be replaced in free agency. Two years in a row now he has let everybody down during the playoffs. He could have been the difference maker against Seattle last year, He could have been the difference maker in game 6 against the Stars. BUT he wasn't there because of bad decisions that he made off the ice. You need your best players when trying to win a cup and Nichushkin has now proven himself to be a liability in the playoffs. He has also become a massive team distraction, another thing you can't have when you want to win a cup.

Nickhuskin is a toxic player that would only bring drama to the locker room.

easy goaltending and depth- you just cant keep losing a guy and then finding yourself not being able to keep up with the tending of the opponent. gorgiev really played to the same level as otter once. i dont doubt he can make that last game more typical for him its clearly something he can do but to add to net depth you need more than makar back there. contrast with dallas miro has lindell, tanev, harley, all can play near enough to miro if not out right hiding any flaws in miros game by filling those needs. dallas dcore is why the offensive depth get the chances they do. and you already have 4 or 5 great offensive players- with 2 lines on o and d being open for editing i say spread mckinnon nichu rantenen and makar and build each line around the players you already know can do very well. losing landi would be brutal for anyteam too- but dallas survived series' with seguin,ben bishop, and miro hurt and now it finished off a team lacking hintz this year. avs need that kinda sturdiness. cause imagine if they go on - if you cant survive 2 or 3 injuries youre not beating a team like the rangers or the canes or any possible eastern opponent in those finals. theres also another thing- dallas is able to draw out from their farm team alot more- like they went out to get kivi after kivi ended their season before- when we introduced him to the league he pulled a hat trick- but the avs barely got him on the score card. what changed in 4 years? kivi is still a good forward, with someone insane like mckinnon on his team you wouldnt expect them to dip mostly on not getting enough 5 on 5 production. its not the coach let me be clear- i just think they need a good summer- and a recovered Nichushkin. so yeah focus on your bottom pairs- and your goaltending and thats how the avs see their potential in the future. i say pull better from your farm, yall arent buffulo you got some pieces down there. use the season to try em out a bit more. see if ya cant find some magic pairs.

Makar is easily the best generational defence man. Anyone who suggests he’s good because he’s with Mackinnon is just a Vancouver homer who’s mad that they don’t have the #1

looks like they need some more men. the crackhead is a big mf. they needed him. stars looked like the more physical team along the boards.

Keep Drouin, Middlestadt, Duhaime, Trenin, and Walker. Get rid of Rantanen, he got points but he didn't seem to want to be playing throughout the season and in the playoffs. Best to trade him now while his value is "high" so we can get someone who wants to play.

Makar sucks in defense gives up pucks alot should be a center

The choo choo (personal issues aside) has proven unreliable. In a team game when you can't trust your teammate to be there it does a number on people. Obviously injuries are a different matter unless you want to treat this as an injury. But 2 years in a row at almost the same time hurts trust. The he spent the summer posting pics of him partying and with firearms. You can't tell me his team didn't see any of that.

What a dumb comment to make that you think Bedumb was not out-coached. Are you actually serious? He sat there for a week watching the Dallas and VGK series, specifically how Dallas clamped down VGK in games 6 and 7 and had NO answer for that same strategy when Dallas did the same thing to the Avs. Secondly, they did do this to the Avs on home ice all series or did you miss games 3,4, and 6...Use some of your hockey guy guruness to see SOG, the fact the teams were mostly even, and compare that to games 6/7 of the VGK tells you he had NO solution to the clamp down that Dallas did. Game 4 was a motivational issue, but good coaches know how to navigate unexpected problems. So, let's recap, 3 years before their cup, can't get out of 2nd round, 2022, in all seriousness if VGK were in the fight, and our prior 3-year history in the playoffs, sorry, the Avs don't win the cup in 2022. In 7 years, ONE SC appearance with this talent and media promotion, that is HORRID results, the last 2 years, atrocious playoff runs regardless of personnel not playing, and for you to think that BEDUMB didn't get out-coached in a series he had a week to prepare for is LAUGHABLE. I expected more from you Hockey Guy. Remember this is a "rebuilt" team with gobs of talent.

landeskog will never play again. nichuskin will be bounced for breach of contract.

Trade for Ullmark

Hate to say this but avs are no longer the favourites for the cup now and will be chasing Dallas for years to come, avs now just need to play each game like they're the underdogs

You can pretend they're a contender, but unless MacFarland gets this team more balanced they're not going deep. The flash and speed gets stalled in a 2OT of game 6 of round 2...imagine 4 rounds in. This is why a balanced or more hefty team makes it all the way. See Brad Marchand's recent comments. So while most Avs fans love being the smallest softest team in the league I f*n hate it and it's pretty aggravating to watch the GM try to force this style of play in the playoffs when it doesn't work. I'd like to see MacFarland gone within 3 years if he doesn't bring another title.

They will never win a cup with Casey Middlestadt as 2nd line center. He is not a playoff performer.

They can't come back next year with the same goaltending combo, there has to be an improvement in that position or they'll end up in the same spot, 2nd or maybe even 1st round exit, guaranteed.

The Avs don’t have a whole lot of forward or defensive depth right now, and their goalie is streaky and nowhere close to elite. One major injury to Makar, MacKinnon, or Rantanen and they are in a load of trouble. Their bottom 6 currently is a bit of a mess. Getting O’Connor back will help. But Nichushkin, Drouin, and Cogliano are likely all gone. I don’t see them winning another cup unless they can bring in some more higher end talent. Also, Landeskog might be finished. They Need 2 more solid F and 2 D to bolster the roster. Walker is likely gone, Johnson too. They’ll contend though, mostly because of their big 3. But this team is not that deep at all. “Cup favorites” seems pretty off to me.