{"id":655439,"date":"2026-09-04T07:54:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T07:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/655439\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T07:54:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T07:54:15","slug":"avalanche-players-and-storylines-to-watch-when-training-camp-opens-sept-17-nhl-insider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/655439\/","title":{"rendered":"Avalanche players and storylines to watch when training camp opens Sept. 17 | NHL Insider"},"content":{"rendered":"

Green Day\u2019s Billie Joe Armstrong got it wrong. For hockey fans, it\u2019s \u201cWake me up when September starts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Training camp for the Avalanche begins in two weeks, and with the arrival of September, hockey fans are waking up. Although the richest deal in NHL history helped the final few days of August pass by, the rest of the month lived up to its reputation as the time when NHL executives hibernate. We\u2019re only a few days into September and already we\u2019ve seen a big trade and one of the lingering free agents sign.<\/p>\n

So yes, hockey is just about back.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, the Avalanche officially announced the dates and times for training camp. They\u2019ll hold their annual media day Sept. 16 before three days of camp, running from Sept. 17-19. All three days of camp will be held at Family Sports Center in Centennial from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and are open to the public. After that, it\u2019s onto the preseason and soon after, the regular season.<\/p>\n

The Avalanche will enter camp healthy, according to general manager Joe Sakic and with a chip on their shoulder after their season ended abruptly in the conference final. There aren\u2019t a ton of juicy storylines for this veteran group in an abbreviated camp and preseason, but here are a few.<\/p>\n

Cale Makar<\/p>\n

All eyes will be on the $163 million man, and not because of the big contract he signed.<\/p>\n

OK, maybe a little because of the big contract he signed.<\/p>\n

No, everyone will be watching Makar because the last time the Avalanche were on the ice, he was operating at a fraction of what everyone is used to seeing him at because of injury. He said he\u2019s good to go for camp earlier this week and has been skating at Family Sports, but it wouldn\u2019t surprise anyone if the team limited him to make sure he\u2019s ready for the season. And when he is out there, is he with Devon Toews or do they try separating them like they did at times last year?<\/p>\n

With just four preseason games, it would be a surprise if any of the big names suited up more than once before the real stuff starts. They may not suit up at all. Making sure the important players are healthy for the regular season is what matters.<\/p>\n

\"MakarColorado Avalanche\u2019s Cale Makar (8) brings the puck across the blue line against Los Angeles Kings during the first period of Game 4 in the first round of a Stanley Cup playoff series April 26 in Los Angeles. (The Associated Press)<\/p>\n

Mackenzie Blackwood<\/p>\n

Speaking of health, at this time last year, Blackwood was not healthy. When the Avalanche acquired him in 2024, he immediately became \u201cthe guy\u201d and they played him like a starter. With him missing the first month of last season, Scott Wedgewood took the ball and ran with it and Blackwood struggled to find consistency in more of a split-goaltending setup.<\/p>\n

If Blackwood is healthy to start this season, how do the Avalanche approach the goaltending split? Do they give Blackwood some time to be \u201cthe guy\u201d again or will they continue with more of a rotation like last season?<\/p>\n

Fedor Svechkov
Zachary L\u2019Heureux<\/p>\n

Sakic has said he wants younger guys to get opportunities this season, and Svechkov and L\u2019Heureux have a serious leg up on the competition. Not only do they have NHL experience, but they both would need to go through waivers to get to the AHL. The Avalanche aren\u2019t going to risk losing them for nothing after trading away a good player to acquire them, so they will start the season in Denver.<\/p>\n

Can the Avalanche unlock more potential in the two former first-round picks? Both have been skating in Denver for a few weeks to get accustomed to their new environments, which has to please the organization. With Svechkov, can he find another gear offensively in a system that seems to fit his style of play? And with L\u2019Heureux, can he earn the trust of the staff while being a pain in the butt to opponents? It\u2019s an element the Avalanche could really use, especially come playoff time.<\/p>\n

Ilya Nabokov<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a long time since the Avalanche have been as excited about a goaltending prospect as they are with Nabokov. The 23-year-old isn\u2019t a big goalie, but he\u2019s freakishly athletic and has committed to spending the year in North America, understanding that he\u2019ll have to start in the AHL. If he plays well this year, it could allow the Avalanche to move on from a veteran in net to save some money under the salary cap.<\/p>\n

Nabokov has been in Colorado for a few weeks preparing for camp after ending the season practicing with the Eagles last spring. This will be the first time he\u2019s tested by NHL shooters, and he will have to adjust to the different angles that come with playing goaltender in North America.<\/p>\n

\"ColoradoColorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) in the first period of an NHL game Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/p>\n

Where do they play Nazem Kadri?<\/p>\n

On paper, Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson and Kadri down the middle is a dynamite 1-2-3 punch. Coach Jared Bednar doesn\u2019t have to run his lines that way if he doesn\u2019t want to, though.<\/p>\n

At times in the regular season and postseason, we saw Kadri on the wing playing on a line with either Nelson or MacKinnon. If Bednar decides to load up his top six with Valeri Nichushkin no longer around, trying this again is another option. The presence of the versatile Nicolas Roy allows them to experiment a bit if they want to. Stack the top six or spread things out a bit? That will be the question.<\/p>\n

Do you separate MacKinnon
and Necas?<\/p>\n

The Avalanche know what MacKinnon and Necas can do together and can put them on a line whenever they want. Is it time to give Necas a longer look away from MacKinnon?<\/p>\n

Trading away Nichushkin meant trading away Nelson\u2019s right-winger and someone who can drive play on his own. We all know MacKinnon can drive a line on his own. It might be time to see if Necas, whose $11.5 million contract kicks in this season, can do the same. He and Nelson played just 147 minutes together last year at 5-on-5. Forty-five of those 147 minutes also saw MacKinnon on the ice, so Nelson and Necas played about 100 minutes together without the superstar. In those 100 minutes, they outscored the opponent 4-0. Giving that duo a bit more runway this season may be the play.<\/p>\n

What I\u2019m hearing<\/p>\n

I say it time and time again, but as disappointing as it was to watch how the Avalanche ended last season, you can never take for granted getting to watch Makar and MacKinnon play hockey every night in this city. Sakic agrees. \u201cHow lucky are we to be able to watch these guys in an Avs uniform?\u201d Sakic said this week.<\/p>\n

On Altitude Radio, Sakic indicated that a deal with Artturi Lehkonen won\u2019t be done before camp. \u201cWe\u2019ll start the season and see where that goes,\u201d he said. He also seemed to indicate that an extension with Bednar is very much possible, while indicating there\u2019s no urgency to get it done right now. \u201cWe\u2019re going to talk about it and see if we can get to an agreement here.\u201d<\/p>\n

What I\u2019m seeing<\/p>\n

Another year where patience pays off in the free agent market. The Rangers snagged Eeli Tolvanen for just $1.5 million the other day. After a disastrous year, the Rangers have quietly had a solid offseason and could easily bounce back in an awful division.<\/p>\n

A little confusing seeing Nashville general manager Chris MacFarland trade a good, young winger for draft picks. One would assume he\u2019s going to rebuild that team and you\u2019d think the 24-year-old Luke Evangalista would be a part of that, but apparently not. One thing I know for sure after covering MacFarland for years: there\u2019s no way they are keeping that 2028 first-rounder they acquired. He\u2019s trading that before the pick is made.<\/p>\n

What I\u2019m thinking<\/p>\n

NHL agent Allan Walsh said that the league is internally projecting a $123 million salary cap in 2028-29. Good news for the Avalanche after the Makar extension, but as the cap continues to skyrocket, you have to wonder how many teams will actually be interested in spending anywhere near the upper limit.<\/p>\n

This feels like the year where some younger defensemen like Alex Gagne or Sean Behrens make their NHL debuts with the Avalanche.<\/p>\n


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