The Colorado Avalanche are one of the most exciting teams in the NHL. They’re also one of the best. Here’s why they could be the ones hoisting the Stanley Cup in June.
Going into this season, the Colorado Avalanche had a ton of promise. They were a goal away from making it to the Western Conference Final in 2019. After adding Nazem Kadri, Joonas Donskoi, and Andre Burakovsky, many had them contending for the top spot in the Central Division.
Things haven’t gone the Avalanche’s way this season, as they’ve suffered a ton of injuries, some of those to their best players. Despite this, the Avalanche have lived up to their hype. Head coach Jared Bednar has proven why he’s one of the best in the business, helping his team overcome obstacles all season long.
Winning a Stanley Cup is very hard to do. However, the Avalanche have what it takes to hoist the Stanley Cup for the third time in franchise history, and for the first time since 2001. Let’s take a look at why they’ve got what it takes.
3. Resilience
In order to win the Stanley Cup, you’ve got to be resilient. Champions are forged by overcoming adversity. The Avalanche have had the deck stacked against them at time this season, yet they enter March 7 just two points shy of the St. Louis Blues for first place in the Central Division.
Mikko Rantanen has only appeared in 42 games thanks to various injuries. Team captain Gabriel Landeskog all of November. Nazem Kadri, Erik Johnson, Cale Makar, and Matt Calvert have each missed more than 10 games. Moreover, Philipp Grubauer has been out with a lower-body injury since mid-February and there’s no set timetable for his return.
Most teams would be devastated by all of those injuries. But not the Avalanche. They enter March 7 fourth in the NHL in goals scored and they’ve also allowed the fifth-fewest goals.