Even after a disappointing loss to the Dallas Stars, the Colorado Avalanche have a very bright future.
Despite a heartbreaking defeat to the Dallas Stars in overtime of Game 7 in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche still remain in a good position to rebound in the 2020-21 season.
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, more demoralizing than an overtime loss in a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Avalanche were one of the hottest teams in the playoff bubble, but the Dallas Stars were too strong to fight off.
While there will be some much needed time to grieve over their defeat as a franchise, it is important to acknowledge they forced a Game 7 after being down 3-1 to the Stars and being down to their third-string goalie.
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Colorado’s core remains one of the youngest and most explosive groups in the NHL, led by superstars Nathan MacKinnon, captain Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen, and one of the league’s brightest young stars in rookie defenseman Cale Makar.
Maka is poised to become the league’s next best defenseman after a very impressive rookie season. He made his NHL debut during last year’s playoff run after the conclusion of his season for the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, just three days after winning the Hobey Baker Award (MVP of the NCAA). In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Makar tallied a goal and five assists in 10 games for the Avalanche before their second-round exit in Game 7 to the San Jose Sharks.
In his first regular-season, Makar played in 57 games, scoring 12 goals and tallying 38 assists for 50 total points, ranking second in most points as a rookie, and leading the NHL with most points per game amongst all rookies. Makar added onto an already dominant rookie year by recording 4 goals and 11 assists in 15 games before losing to the Dallas Stars in yet another Game 7.
While Makar more than deserves his fair share of recognition for his production, there is nobody in the Stanley Cup Playoffs who dominated games more than MacKinnon. He maintained the second-longest point streak in playoffs history, having gone on a 14-game point streak recording 9 goals and 16 assists (25 total points). His streak came to a conclusion though, as he was held without a point in the Game 7 tilt against Dallas.
We can go on and on about how talented Makar and MacKinnon are, but the success of an NHL team is dependent on more than just two players, as clearly demonstrated before by the Edmonton Oilers. The Colorado Avalanche became too reliant on their stars as the playoffs lugged on.
As everyone knows, the teams that advance are ones with depth scoring. In order to make a resurgence in 2020-21, the Avalanche will need to acquire cheap rentals who may not have the elite skills required to be in the top six, but still have the scoring touch to thrive on the third line and create a matchup nightmare for opposing teams.
In addition to solidifying the bottom six on offense, the Avalanche will need to move a piece or two in order to afford the additions needed to get over the hump. Those pieces that need to be moved include veteran defenseman Ian Cole and forward Valeri Nichushkin. Both of these players have “veteran experience”, but offer very little else.
As Nichushkin tallied just two goals and one assist in 12 games, Ian Cole provides very little upside, as the 31-year old registered two assists in 15 games played while giving up numerous odd-man rushes and broken plays throughout their run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Though the freeing of these players will make it easier for the team to extend players with expiring contracts in the near future, such as Makar next season, the move needs to be made in order to acquire a much-needed starting goaltender.
Philipp Grubauer is a solid netminder, but he’s not the guy to lead you to the promised land. Grubauer is an elite backup goalie, but he’s an average starter on a good day. If the Colorado Avalanche want to advance further into the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season, they’ll need to go all-in for a marquis free agent goalie.
Luckily for Colorado, the salary cap remains a stagnant $81.5 million for the 2020-21 season. This means teams will have a harder time affording not only depth players, but elite goalies as well.
Expect the Avalanche to target goalies such as Braden Holtby, Robin Lehner, and Jacob Markstrom. By acquiring one of these starting netminders, the Avalanche will be in an even better position than they’re already in.
Colorado will have the luxury of not needing to dive into free agency for another defenseman to replace Ian Cole in the aforementioned breakup, as they already possess another elite prospect in their ranks with Bowen Byram, who will look to make his much anticipated NHL debut next season.
The Colorado Avalanche will not only make an appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season, but they will be stronger and deeper than ever before with their younger players having gained invaluable playoff experience, an elite-potential rookie who is anxious to make an impact in the NHL, and potential new faces on the team who will be looking to transition this team from being contenders to Stanley Cup champions.