After a nightmare 2016-17 season, the rebuild is officially starting for the Colorado Avalanche.
It’s hard to believe how quickly the Colorado Avalanche have fallen. Just three years ago, they were the toast of the NHL. The Avalanche had just made the playoffs against all odds and nearly beat the Minnesota Wild in the first round. Everyone thought their future was bright. Three years later, their future couldn’t be more uncertain.
How bad were the Avalanche last season? Their 48 points (over 82 games) would not have been enough to make the playoffs in the 2012-13 lockout shortened season. They finished 21 points behind the second worst team in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks. For a team that had 82 points the previous season, their decent into the lowest depths of the NHL standings was surprising.
The Avalanche seem prepared to rebuild this season. This likely means the season will feature a lot of growing pains. However, it’s for the best. Looking at the Avalanche’s depth, a rebuild is long overdue. Perhaps no NHL team needs one more than them. With a lot of young players on their roster, at least there will be fresh faces for Avalanche fans to root for moving forward.
This could be a defining season for general manager Joe Sakic and head coach Jared Bednar. The former has witnessed his team decline in three consecutive seasons following their last postseason appearance. Sakic won the battle against Patrick Roy, but he could be the next guy to go.
Bednar must prove he’s the right guy for the job moving forward. Especially with a tempting head coach option in the same state. The roster must fight for their respective spots as the Avalanche attempt to find out who the keepers are and who’s expendable. It’s a critical season for everyone involved.