On paper, the Avalanche have probably the deepest top six they’ve ever had to start a season. And despite all four of their top wingers having some level of uncertainty, the front office is understandably betting on talent.
They’re betting on Gabe Landeskog, Martin Necas, Valeri Nichushkin, and Artturi Lehkonen.
They’re betting on a captain who returned during this past postseason after missing almost three full years of action. They’re betting on a top-line winger who hasn’t yet signed a contract a year out from unrestricted free agency — and the distraction that could bring to a team like we saw a year ago.
They’re betting on Nichushkin remaining on the path he’s been on for 12 months. And they’re also betting on his physical health to hold up through the rigors of a full season, which hasn’t always been the case.
And they’re betting on Lehkonen having a full year without injuries. Something he hasn’t had since the 2021-22 season, when it began in Montreal and ended with a Stanley Cup clinching goal.
They’re a talented group. That’s not even a question. But it’s still, in some sense, a group built on a hope and a prayer.
“I just think we’re a good hockey team,” general manager Chris MacFarland told me. “I think we’ve got good pieces, I think we’ve got a Cale Makar, a Nathan MacKinnon, the names you mentioned.”
He’s not wrong. But it hasn’t worked in four years. Can this be the year it all comes together?
“COVID hurt us, there’s no ifs ands or butts about it. And then the uncertainty of Gabe’s situation and the unfortunate stuff with Val,” MacFarland said. “But that stuff’s in the past.”
It’s still hard to really comprehend just how important a piece Landeskog is going to be this season. Both MacFarland and head coach Jared Bednar made it clear that they’re going to do everything they can to keep the 32-year-old forward healthy.
To allow him an opportunity to have a successful season and be a factor come playoff time.
Between him and Nichushkin, the Avs could be on their way to a huge year if those guys combine for, say, 150 games.
For Nichushkin, the off-ice issues have seemingly gotten better over the last year. But that doesn’t take away from injuries that have also affected his ability to always be an option.
Is that something to worry about?
“He’s missed some games over time with some injuries here and there, but I don’t see any issue ever since he’s been here with him being able to play a full season,” Bednar said. “He’s one of the most physically fit guys we have. He’s one of the most dedicated guys in the gym. His off-ice habits when it comes to getting himself prepared, I don’t see any problem with that at all.”
Perhaps the only issue with this group, aside from hoping the three mainstays stay healthy (Lehkonen included), is the status of Necas’ contract negotiations.
MacFarland obviously doesn’t want it to become a distraction.
“I’ve chatted with the agent. We’re not going to get into the day-to-day week-to-week type of stuff,” he said. “We’d like to get something done. I think that’s kind of the update.”
But what if it extends into the season? The general manager made it sound like he’s fine with it stretching through the year, simply calling it “the challenging part of the business.”
However, this was also the case with Mikko Rantanen last season. And the Avs’ high-scoring superstar winger was suddenly traded late in January against his will.
Letting this not be a similar case would be huge for the Avs. Necas has been a dependable player throughout his career for the Carolina Hurricanes. He doesn’t miss a lot of time.
But if negotiations go south like they did with Rantanen, there’s no way to predict what kind of shake up would happen, and how it’ll affect the locker room in the middle of a pivotal season.
“Like any free agent-to-be, you see there are a number of them still out there,” MacFarland said. ” But when you find the connection, it gets announced. Sometimes early, sometimes mid-year, sometimes late.”
Colorado’s top six can compete with the best of them. MacKinnon is arguably one of the two best players in the world, and Brock Nelson has been a steady, reliable center for more than a decade.
All the team needs is for things to fall into place, for luck to be on their side, for once, with some of the things they’ve dealt with over the years.
If that happens, another championship could soon follow.
“We’re trying to build a good hockey team that can compete, first in our division and then in the West,” MacFarland said.
