It’s only been one game, but everything we saw on opening night is precisely why it’s been hard to truly assess this team over the past three years.
On one hand, the Avalanche have been a disappointment. They’ve only had one playoff series win since 2022 and haven’t accomplished any of the things they should have. But do you blame them? I mean, yes, you can. And you should, because it’s not entirely bad luck that’s hurt them. There have been several questionable decisions that we don’t have to rehash right now.
However, you can’t ignore the numerous challenges they’ve had to overcome. Goaltending was never actually figured out (and yes, that’s on them). The constant injuries and lack of depth because of a flat salary cap, the Gabe Landeskog saga, the many instances of Valeri Nichushkin’s off-ice issues.
And who could forget the inability of four (FOUR!!) other guys to step up as the 2C when handed the reins.
Everything we saw in Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings is exactly why this team is probably not getting the respect it deserves.
READ MORE: The Aftermath: Necas, Wedgewood Lead Dominant Avalanche on Opening Night
They had a quiet offseason in a good way. They have depth, they’re healthy, they have their captain, they have Nichushkin, they have a second-line center, and they still have some cap space to maneuver.
I mean, their starting goalie is out, and yet they still have strong goaltending.
Injuries will happen. But if things can be relatively normal, it’s going to be a massive year for Jared Bednar’s club.
“It’s the personnel, the depth, the experience that we have in the lineup right now,” Bednar told reporters postgame. “We’re starting the year pretty healthy with guys slotted in the right places.”
1. That entire preamble was basically because I took a peak at the scoresheet after the game and realized that Nichushkin played less than 15 minutes and Landeskog clocked in at 11:12, and it didn’t matter.
For years, this team hasn’t had the option of letting guys like that play fewer minutes on nights where they’re not at the top of their game. Bednar has had to overplay his top guys every game for like three seasons. No matter what. Regardless of if they’re playing well or not.
He had no other choice.
Now? He can pick and choose. He can give Artturi Lehkonen the team-leading 23:29 he earned. Or have Brock Nelson also play more than 23 minutes. Some nights, I bet those guys will both play fewer than 15 minutes and Nichushkin and Landeskog will be the ones well over 20.
2. On defense, it was Brent Burns up over 20 minutes with Cale Makar and Devon Toews. Both Josh Manson and Samuel Girard were in the 17-18 minute range, and Sam Malinski, who scored the game winner, played just 13:13.
Similar to the forwards, I bet you’ll have nights where Burns is playing around 15 and either Manson or Girard are in the 20s, like they’ve often been in the past.
It’s a nice change from the failed Oliver Kylington and Calvin de Haan experiments.
3. Last year, the Avalanche scored four goals on opening night against the Vegas Golden Knights. But at the other end, Alexandar Georgiev surrendered five goals on 16 shots, and Justus Annunen only stopped 2-of-4 in relief.
This year, their backup, Scott Wedgewood, was a massive upgrade. Wedgewood faced 25 shots — five more than the two goalies did a year ago. The Avs still scored four goals, but Wedgewood only surrendered one.
What a difference a year makes.
4. I loved seeing Manson light up Warren Foegele with that big first-period hit. That’s the stuff that makes him a valuable piece for the blueline.
Also, I don’t mind seeing players stick up for their teammates and fight after a clean hit. I get it, it’s an emotional sport, and you just watched your guy get blown up. The officials rightfully called an extra two minutes on Jeff Malott. All is good.
However, what I don’t like is seeing is Malott grabbing Manson’s shoulder pad and pulling him down to the ice at the end of the fight. That could’ve been really dangerous.
Manson with a HUGE hit on Foegele, and Malott steps in in his teammate’s defense 🥊 pic.twitter.com/3qywNNGP43
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 8, 2025
5. Gavin Brindley told reporters before the game that he tries to model his game after Brayden Point. I’d say that’s a solid assessment of how he looked in his second NHL game and first with the Avs. He only played 7:50, but in the low-event first period, Brindley stood out positively with his motor, forechecking, and physicality.
That’s how he’s going to have to play as a smaller forward, if he wants to have a long career. Not a bad start if you ask me.
6. L.A. had absolutely nothing going in the second period. But suddenly, a turnover at the blueline led to an Alex Turcotte 1-on-1 opportunity with Wedgewood. He got in on the goalie but was stopped with a great pad save.
That came with just over a minute remaining in the second period. It could’ve been the kind of goal that gets the Kings going entering the intermission. Instead, Wedgewood preserved his shutout, then Joel Edmundson got a delay of game penalty, and the Avs took a 3-0 lead and a power play into the break.
Putting on a performance. pic.twitter.com/AjEOvp66Bw
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 8, 2025
7. It’s worth noting the turnover came from Brindley. Rookie mistake, teachable moment. Kudos to Wedgewood for bailing out the kid.
8. That was just a ridiculously great fake shot and move by Makar to set up the rebound goal for Lehkonen. World-class stuff from a world-class player.
CALE MAKAR MAKING THINGS HAPPEN, PER USUAL 🔥
Colorado is up 3-0 in LA 👀 pic.twitter.com/CXB6UmX2YR
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 8, 2025
9. I wrote about this in The Aftermath, but it still feels like they’re trying to figure out how to deploy the power play. Dave Hakstol is new and it might take some time. But they’ve got the personnel to experiment with a few different things.
10. Shoutout to Nathan MacKinnon for passing Joe Sakic in points in an Avalanche sweater. I had to sit back and really think about the gravity of that accomplishment. I never, ever, thought anyone would touch Sakic’s numbers with this team.
READ MORE: Nathan MacKinnon Surpasses Joe Sakic for Most Points with Avalanche
