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Colorado Avalanche: 2017 Season Preview, Predictions

By Dave Stevenson

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 12: Bernie, the Avs mascot skates around the ice during a regular season NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and the visiting Anaheim Ducks on January 12, 2017, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 12: Bernie, the Avs mascot skates around the ice during a regular season NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and the visiting Anaheim Ducks on January 12, 2017, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Colorado Avalanche
Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images /

Offseason Review

The Colorado Avalanche’s offseason has been a relatively quiet one. Their biggest move they made was acquiring Colin Wilson from the Nashville Predators for a 2019 fourth round pick. He had 35 points in 70 games during the regular season, averaging just under 15 minutes per game. Wilson could be future trade bait, especially if he can get back to being a 40 point player.

Re-signing Sven Andrighetto was a very smart move. The trade deadline acquisition was given significant playing time with Nathan MacKinnon and he took advantage of it. With the Avalanche, Andrighetto put up 16 points in 19 games. It’s obviously a small sample size, but he’s a skilled player on a roster that needs skill.

Mark Barbeiro and Matt Nieto are two waiver claims who earned spots moving forward by performing. Both are signed to cheap deals, but should be worthy place holders for their prospects. Barbeiro might be a long-term piece with the Avalanche’s uncertain future on the blue line. However, Nieto is a quality fourth line forward, but nothing else.

After losing Calvin Pickard to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Avalanche signed veteran goaltender Jonathan Bernier to replace him. Semyon Varlamov is still the likely starter, but Bernier should prove to be a valuable backup for them. Due to his one-year deal, he might even fetch them a draft pick at the trade deadline.

Colorado has been a bit of a popular NCAA free agent destination. They added both Alex Kerfoot from Harvard and Dominic Toninato. Considering both signed with the Avalanche and Colorado’s awful forward depth, expect both to get chances at earning NHL roster spots.

The Avalanche’s offseason is more about what didn’t happen than what did happen. A Matt Duchene trade was all but assumed, and here we are entering September with him still on the roster. Captain Gabriel Landeskog also faced trade rumors, but is still on the team.

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