Why the Colorado Avalanche Should TERRIFY the NHL

Why the Colorado Avalanche Should TERRIFY the NHL

In a year where it seems like anyone can beat anyone on any given night, there’s one NHL team that stood out from the pack and look a little different from the rest of the league. That team is of course the Colorado Avalanche who are having an historic start to their season currently with just two regulation losses through 30 games and a ridiculous 110 and2 record on home ice. The Avalanche are not only the top team in the league currently, but they also play an extremely exciting brand of hockey and have some of the game’s biggest stars in their lineup. Led by current NHL goal and point leader Nathan McKinnon, this team appears to be on a mission this year and likely only care about one thing, winning another Stanley Cup. Last season, AS general manager Chris McFarland and President Joe Sackic made some big changes to their team throughout the year. The biggest one was, of course, trading superstar Miko Rantin, originally to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team deal that fetched them nasury, a 2025 second and 2026 fourthround picks. The Canes eventually had to deal ranting into the Dallas Stars because he wasn’t going to sign long-term in Carolina. And we all saw what happened when Colorado faced off against Dallas in the playoffs. Just an all-time revenge performance for Mo in game seven. The Avalanche also traded for two new Net minders, Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. Both guys who have been big upgrades over what they had previously. Colorado also made a splash before the trade deadline, picking up one of the top players available and the veteran centerman Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders. They did give up their top prospect Callum Richie and a conditional first round pick in 2026, but Nelson has been great for the Avalanche and is exactly what they needed in their lineup. Although things didn’t work out perfectly for Colorado last year, the moves they made are paying dividends this season and fixing nearly all the holes in their lineup is showing through with their elite play this campaign. and is a big reason why they are currently the heavy favorites to win the Stanley Cup in 2026. When it comes to the Avalanche and their success, it starts at the top with their best player and the guy who right now many would say is the best player in all of hockey, Nathan McKinnon. Not only is McKinnon one of the best, he’s also arguably the most intense player in the league and demands a lot from his teammates and himself, which is why he’s drawn comparisons to competitors like Michael Jordan in the past. This has an extreme trickle down effect for the entire team because his teammates know how high of a level he’s playing at, have to elevate their game, and don’t want to let him down or waste any of these years where he’s the prime of his career. Mac is on pace to smash his career high of 51 goals, and could even break his career-high point total, which is an absurd 140 from two years ago when he won league MVP. Another underrated reason as to why this team has been so good, I believe, is due to the fact that they got the heart and soul of their team back in their captain, Gabe Landisk. Of course, he was back for a few games in the playoffs last year, but he was able to start the season with the team this year and has had some time to get his legs back under him, which is an amazing thing for him and the morale of the team considering there was a time when there was no guarantee he’d ever play hockey again. The Avalanche also have a pair of defenseman in Kale Mar and Devont Taves that many people would consider the best in hockey. Macar is currently the NHL’s leading point scorer among defensemen and is a player that’s well on his way to his third Norris Trophy at just 27 years old. He’s an extremely dynamic player who also happens to be very responsible on his own end. Can often be a one-man breakout. and his deep partner Taves, while not as productive offensively as Macar, can still chip in for a clutch goal every now and then and is steady as a rock, shutting down the opposition on a nightly basis. The rest of the ABS decor is extremely balanced this year as well. Every single player can move the puck and play a fast-paced transition game. Sam Molinsky has been excellent so far this year, as well as free agent pickup Brent Burns, who is still contributing at 40 years old. And Josh Manson has been very steady in his own right. He’s got underrated skill and skating ability, but also has bite and is never afraid to throw the body. The other thing that’s different about this ABS team compared to their teams the last three years is that they’ve finally filled that second line center spot that’s really been an issue since Nazum Kadri left. Brock Nelson has come in and been a strong two-way guy that is one of the more underrated goal scorers in hockey. And even at 34 years old will be a huge piece throughout the season and on their playoff run again this year. In addition, even though Miko Ranton got his playoff revenge on the ABS last spring, Marty Niches has been excellent since joining Colorado and plays a style of hockey that fits perfectly into the team system. He’s definitely more of a finesse player than McKinnon Rantin, but he’s developed some really strong chemistry with Nate and their speed and skill match perfectly together. He’s also right up there in the top five of NHL point leaders, only a single point behind Rantonin at the moment. Arttori Lechinan also happens to be one of the most underrated players on this Colorado team. He plays a two-way game and has a great ability to compliment star players, which is why he fits in so nicely on the top line with McKinnon and Nes. He also usually steps up in the playoffs and led the league in game-winning goals during the 2022 cup run when the Avalanche won it all. We can’t forget about Valushkin who’s a guy that when he’s on his game is as good as any power forward in the league. And even going down the lineup, there are very few weaknesses on this Colorado team. Got solid dep forwards like Parker Kelly, Jack Drury, and Ross Colton, if you can even call him a debt forward. And then when it comes to the goalenders, they pretty much have a 1A1B situation with Wedgewood and Blackwood. And as you can tell by the numbers, you can’t go wrong with either of these guys. The Colorado Avalanche are currently first place in the entire league. They’re first in goals four, first in goals against, and they are far and away the top team in terms of goal differential with a plus 48. Dallas being the second best at a plus 29. Those two teams will likely have to go through each other again this year on route to a Western Conference or even Stanley Cup final. But the Colorado Avalanche sure look like the team to beat and I don’t know if anyone will be able to beat them in a sevename series this year. Which is why the rest of the NHL should be afraid of the Colorado Avalanche.

This video is all about the Colorado Avalanche and their hot start to the 2025-26 NHL season. They’ve currently lost only two games in regulation in their first 30 played and are the top team in goals for, goals against, and goal differential. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas, Gabe Landeskog and others have been leading the way for the Avs and are the reason why this team looks scary to the rest of the league.

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