FORWARDS
11 Brock Nelson
C | 33 years old | 6-foot-4 | 205 pounds
Settled in and with a three-year contract in tow, the coaching staff and teammates have raved about how good Nelson looks in camp. Avs need him to be one of the league’s best No. 2 centers.
13 Valeri Nichushkin
RW | 30 | 6-4 | 210
After two years of postseason turmoil off the ice, Nichushkin had a solid year when healthy and his first “normal” summer in a while. Playing more than 65 games for the first time since 2015-16 should be a goal.
17 Parker Kelly
LW/C | 26 | 6-1 | 185
Kelly went from relative unknown to getting a four-year extension after quickly becoming a trusted bottom-six guy and key penalty killer. Could help mentor rookie Zakhar Bardakov on the fourth line.
18 Jack Drury
C | 25 | 5-11 | 186
Centered coach Jared Bednar’s “identity line” after arriving in the Mikko Rantanen trade. His new challenge is trying to prove he can be a No. 3 center on a contending team. It’s also a contract year. Doing so would be a financial boon.
20 Ross Colton
LW/C | 29 | 6-0 | 194
Went from hottest goal scorer in the league in October to a prolonged second-half slump a year ago. Avs need him to be the offensive leader of the third line in year three with the club.
25 Logan O’Connor
RW | 29 | 6-0 | 175
Had a great playoff series against Dallas, but will miss the start of the season after a second hip surgery in as many years. Should slot in on the right side of a bottom-six line and continue to be an integral glue guy.
C | 30 | 6-0 | 200
No longer the MVP and still chasing his first scoring title. Here’s one milestone to monitor: If MacKinnon can score 133 points this year, he’d have 500 in a four-year span. Club record is 491 (Petr Stastny from 1980-84).
62 Artturi Lehkonen
LW | 30 | 5-11 | 179
Mr. Dependable missed the start of last season, but still managed a career-best 27 goals and could surpass that total. Unofficially remains among the league leaders in “just does things to help teams win” per 60 minutes.
88 Martin Necas
RW | 26 | 6-3 | 195
Looked great next to MacKinnon after arriving as the marquee piece in the Rantanen return. Now he’s in the same spot — final year of his contract, with a chance for a huge payday. Will it be with the Avs?
92 Gabe Landeskog
LW | 32 | 6-1 | 215
One of the most remarkable comebacks in sports history continues. The Captain has looked like his old self in camp and has no restrictions with his repaired knee. He’s going to play as much as it will allow.
93 Zakhar Bardakov
C | 24 | 6-2 | 198
Has made good on GM Chris MacFarland’s faith in him, locking down the No. 4 center position with a strong training camp. New to North America, smaller rinks and the faster pace, but hasn’t played like it.
94 Joel Kiviranta
LW/RW | 29 | 5-11 | 185
Had a career-high 16 goals, but didn’t find a multi-year contract on the open market. Back with the Avs for a third year, and should continue to be a staple in the bottom six and on the penalty kill.
95 Victor Olofsson
RW | 30 | 5-11 | 180
Had a bounce-back year with Vegas, but also didn’t find the contract he was looking for in July. Joined the Avs late in the offseason, but should start on the third line and could be nice top-six insurance.
DEFENSEMEN
7 Devon Toews
D | 31 | 6-1 | 191
Has now finished in the top-15 of the Norris Trophy voting in four of the past five seasons. Continues to be on the short list for best No. 2 defenseman in the league.
8 Cale Makar
D | 26 | 6-0 | 187
Collected his first 30-goal season and his second Norris Trophy last year. Could a run at 100 points be next for the best defenseman on the planet?
42 Josh Manson
D | 34 | 6-3 | 218
Missed nearly half of last season with injuries. Will be interesting to see how the arrival of Brent Burns affects his ice time, and if he’s going to play more with Samuel Girard or Sam Malinski.
49 Samuel Girard
D | 27 | 5-10 | 170
Has missed nearly all of camp with a lower-body injury. Also isn’t likely to play on the second power-play unit when everyone is healthy, but should continue to be an offensive engine on the second pairing.
67 Keaton Middleton
D | 27 | 6-6 | 240
Took advantage of an opportunity in the middle of last season and hasn’t looked back. He’ll likely settle in as the No. 7 guy when everyone is healthy, but proved he can handle a third-pairing NHL role for more than a few games last year.
70 Sam Malinski
D | 27 | 5-11 | 190
Found his footing as an NHL regular last year, now has a new challenge: learning to play on the left side because the Avs have four right-shooting defensemen in their top six.
84 Brent Burns
D | 40 | 6-5 | 228
He’s already added a charge of personality in the dressing room. What will he add on the ice? Could really help the second power-play unit with his shoot-first attitude, and should play a lot on the penalty kill.
GOALTENDERS
39 Mackenzie Blackwood
G | 28 | 6-4 | 225
Begins the first of a five-year contract rehabbing an offseason injury, but isn’t expected to be out for much longer. Could make a run at the franchise win record (41) if he can get rolling once he’s back.
41 Scott Wedgewood
G | 33 | 6-2 | 201
Proved to be a huge addition last season, stabilizing the position and also quickly becoming a key member of the dressing room. It’s a contract year, and “above-average No. 2 goalie” is the expectation.
50 Trent Miner
G | 24 | 6-1 | 185
Made his NHL debut last season. Could see a spot start before Blackwood is ready. Will be the Eagles’ No. 1 this year, but could face a challenge late in the year from Ilya Nabokov once his KHL season is over.
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