RSS Avalanche Team Notes

[Colorado Avalanche]

Open Thread: Minnesota Wild @ Colorado Avalanche (12:00 P.M.)

May 25, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche fans hold up signs in support of center Nazem Kadri (91) before game five of the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Colorado Avalanche, boasting the most formidable lineup in the NHL this season, just got a little nastier coming out of the NHL trade deadline.

Or, perhaps more fittingly, Naz-tier.

Nazem Kadri begins his second stint as a member of the Avs today, who face the newly reconfigured Minnesota Wild in a high stakes matchup at Ball Arena.

Colorado Avalanche (42-10-9)​

The Opponent: Minnesota Wild (37-16-10)

Time: 12:00 P.M. MST/2:00 P.M. EST

Watch: HBO MAX/TNT/truTV (U.S. National Broadcast), TVAS/TVAS+ (Canadian National Broadcast), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Outside Avalanche and Wild Broadcast Region – Canada)

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM

Colorado Avalanche​

The Avalanche return home on the heels of their most challenging stretch of hockey in the wake of the Olympic break. They defeated the Dallas Stars by a 5-4 shootout decision after coming back from separate 3-1 and 4-2 deficits on Friday evening at American Airlines Center. After Stars captain Jamie Benn botched an empty net play that would have secured a key regulation victory for Dallas, Valeri Nichushkin tied the game with 13.2 seconds remaining in the third period. Scott Wedgewood, who replaced Mackenzie Blackwood after he surrendered four goals on eleven shots, was sensational in relief, stopping everything that came his way in regulation, and made brilliant saves on Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen in overtime and both Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene in the shootout. Martin Nečas scored what proved to be the shootout winner on Jake Oettinger, and Nichushkin added another shootout goal to ice the comeback, salvaging two critical points in the standings from falling into Dallas’ hands. The victory completed a sweep of the Avs’ three game road trip, and was their fifth win in six games, while snapping Dallas’ franchise record ten game winning streak.

Coach Jared Bednar said this of Nichushkin’s performance on Friday: “I feel like he’s been playing a lot better right before the break, coming out of the break, he’s starting to using his legs like we’re used to seeing. He had been fighting the puck for a little bit, had a little bit of an injury that was bothering him; he was playing through that, and he’s been snakebit […] hopefully this sparks him here, and he starts feeling it a little bit, because he deserves to put a few more back in the net.”

In their win over Dallas, the Avalanche further solidified their position as the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. Coming into today’s game against Minnesota, they have a six point lead over Dallas with a game in hand, and a nine point lead over Minnesota with two games in hand. While the Avs trail the season series as a result of their 5-2 defeat on home ice by Minnesota on February 26, this version of the Avalanche roster will look markedly different from the one that Minnesota faced previously with the return of Nazem Kadri—a reunion that many Avs fans felt was nearly impossible—after being re-acquired from the Calgary Flames on Friday afternoon.

Despite having just a twelve goals to this point in this year, his lowest since the COVID-shortened 2020-2021 season, Kadri’s physicality, face-off prowess, and penchant for drawing penalties will be huge as the Avs close in on that coveted top seed for the playoffs. He should have no problem getting re-acquainted with Bednar’s system, and his chemistry within the locker room speaks for itself. Kadri will undoubtedly receive a hero’s welcome from Avs fans for his first game in a Colorado sweater in over three years.

Today marks the final game of the four game series with Minnesota, but a win by the Avalanche this afternoon could all but put the top spot in the Central Division out of Minnesota’s reach.

(Let’s try not to launch any pucks from the defensive zone on the penalty kill today.)

Nathan MacKinnon still leads the NHL with a League-best 42 goals and has closed the points gap with Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (MacKinnon has 103 points; McDavid leads the League with 106). Nečas, who tied his career high in goals (28) this past Friday in Dallas, is two goals away from a tie for second place in goal scoring with Brock Nelson (30). Cale Makar is one goal away from his fourth season of reaching the 20 goal marker.

Projected Lineup​

Forwards:
Gabe Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas
Ross Colton – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Parker Kelly – Nazem Kadri – Nicolas Roy
Joel Kiviranta – Jack Drury – Gavin Brindley

Defense:
Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski

Between the Pipes:
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Minnesota Wild​

Minnesota came out of the Olympic break with a huge opportunity to gain ground in the hotly contested Central Division with their victory over Colorado. However, two consecutive losses to division opponents (ironically, a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Utah Mammoth on February 27—the night after they defeated Colorado by the exact same score—and a 3-1 loss to the St Louis Blues on March 01) allowed Dallas to reclaim second place, dropping Minnesota to third in the division. Coming into today’s game, Minnesota pulled within two points of Dallas, having defeated the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 4-2 at T-Mobile Arena this past Friday, so a win in Denver today would be pretty massive. However, since Dallas holds a game in hand on Minnesota, they would still retain second place in the division. With less than twenty games left in the regular season, Minnesota may need to start getting help from other teams in order to position themselves more favorably as teams hit the final stretch of the season.

While Minnesota landed its biggest trade piece earlier this season in the Quinn Hughes deal last November, GM Bill Guerin was very active leading up to the NHL trade deadline. He claimed center Robby Fabbri off waivers from the St. Louis Blues, and acquired defenseman Jeff Petry from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Minnesota’s seventh round pick in this year’s draft. He also acquired center Michael McCarron in exchange for Minnesota’s second round pick in 2028.

Guerin wasn’t done there: at the deadline, he acquired right wing Bobby Brink from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman David Jiříček. Brink made his debut for Minnesota this past Friday, but is no stranger to playing in Colorado, having won several awards at the collegiate level, including the NCAA championship in 2022, with the University of Denver Pioneers. Guerin also acquired Nick Foligno, the brother of Minnesota assistant captain Marcus Foligno, from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations. Marcus Foligno is currently out with injury, but could return to the lineup against Colorado. Vinnie Hinostroza was also dealt to the Florida Panthers in exchange for future considerations.

Minnesota’s retooled lineup will give them a much different appearance in this final regular season matchup against Colorado. The addition of Brink will give them another option on offense; while his thirteen goals would tie him for seventh place among Minnesota skaters, this figure is a career high for him in his short NHL career and could see a bump in his new surroundings, especially if he continues to see top six ice time like he did this past Friday against Vegas. Foligno and McCarron add a veteran presence that playoff-bound clubs find irrisitible for playoff runs, and while Fabbri has struggled in recent seasons, having roster depth—especially at center—is a must have at this time of year as teams gear up for postseason play.

Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy currently share the team lead in goals (35). Kaprizov leads all skaters in points (75), while Boldy is three points behind in second place (72). Filip Gustavsson got the start Minnesota’s previous victory in Colorado, but was unable to finish the game due to illness. With Gustavsson getting a majority of the starter’s workload since coming back from the Olympics, it’s possible Jesper Wallstedt starts today to give Gustavsson a breather prior to Minnesota’s upcoming four game homestand starting on Tuesday.

Projected Lineup​

Forwards:
Kirill Kaprizov – Ryan Hartman – Mats Zuccarello
Matt Boldy – Joel Eriksson Ek – Bobby Brink
Vladimir Tarasenko – Danila Yurov – Yakov Trenin
Robby Fabbri – Michael McCarron – Nico Sturm

Defense:
Quinn Hughes – Brock Faber
Jonas Brodin – Jared Spurgeon
Jake Middleton – Zach Bogosian

Between the Pipes:
Jesper Wallstedt
Filip Gustavsson

Follow along in the comments below!

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/open...ad-minnesota-wild-colorado-avalanche-1200-p-m

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Morning Flurries: Nečas named second star of the week

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 25: Martin Necas #88 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on during the third period of a game against the Utah Mammoth at Delta Center on February 25, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Following a successful weekend with dual shootout triumphs over their central division rivals, forward Martin Nečas of the Colorado Avalanche was named the NHL’s second star of the week with eight points over four contests.

Mark Scheifele, Martin Necas and Tage Thompson have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 8.

3 Stars of the Week presented by @GEICO#NHLStats: https://t.co/LgUvVFZCz3 pic.twitter.com/YOXHtT5S8z

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) March 9, 2026

The best part of the trade deadline passing is when the true stories of what happened behind the scenes during the frenzy start to come out including how the Montreal Canadiens were in on Nazem Kadri until the end.

Canadiens Were “In The Mix” Late On Nazem Kadrihttps://t.co/tg02vQQmAb

— Pro Hockey Rumors (@prohockeyrumors) March 9, 2026

ICYMI, hear about our first hand account of Nazem Kadri’s return to Colorado! He’s more ready and focused than ever on earning the grand prize one more time.

Nazem Kadri Didn’t Come Back for a Specific Role — He Came Back to Win a Stanley Cup#GoAvsGo | @AdoHernandez27 https://t.co/b8DgNebc7i

— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) March 9, 2026

Bad news for the Colorado Eagles, their arena build project in Greeley has hit a snag with a local vote that didn’t go their way. The builders are still optimistic they will find a solution.

Greeley residents kicked the Colorado Eagles out of their new nest in Tuesday’s special election. At least for now. https://t.co/6c1Cdf4c61

— The Colorado Sun (@ColoradoSun) February 26, 2026

Finally, the bulletin board at Altitude studios: a list.

Tallest current NHL players:

6'9"
Curtis Douglas
Matt Rempe

6'8"
Elmer Soderblom
Adam Klapka
Louis Crevier
Tyler Myers

6'7"
Vincent Desharnais
Jamie Oleksiak
Victor Hedman
Nikita Zadorov
Logan Stanley
Lian Bichsel
Adam Edstrom

— NHL Rosters (@NHL_Rosters) March 9, 2026

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/morn...-flurries-necas-named-second-star-of-the-week

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Recap: Oilers thump Avalanche 4-3

DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 10: Jack Roslovic #28 of the Edmonton Oilers scores a goal against Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood #39 of the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on March 10, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

After a whirlwind weekend which saw the return of Nazem Kadri and big shootout wins over the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, things settled back down into a game every-other-day routine with the Edmonton Oilers in town. In a possible first round match up, this game showed that Edmonton still can pose some problems as the Oilers pulled out a 4-3 win in a game that was marred with drama.

The Game

Early game momentum carried for the Avalanche with Ross Colton opening the scoring just 32 seconds into the game. The Oilers responded with what they do best — quickly converting on the power play. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was the beneficiary of a slick Connor McDavid pass and the game was suddenly tied.

Before the end of the period, though, the Avalanche got the lead back on a power play goal of their own as Martin Nečas gathered a loose puck and fired it home from his new spot on the left circle. It looked like they’d take the momentum into the first intermission but the Oilers got their own period bookend goal with 24 seconds left as Jack Roslovic was found all alone by Leon Draisaitl in front of Mackenzie Blackwood to even the score at 2-2.

Colorado decided to start the second period on hard mode and continued to leave the net front uncovered. Darnell Nurse found Nugent-Hopkins for his second goal of the night. This middle frame was not going Colorado’s way but after killing a penalty successfully the Avalanche earned their own power play to try and tie the game before the period ended.

With about one minute to go Nathan MacKinnon had a violent collision with Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram which caused the netminder to leave the game. After a very lengthy review MacKinnon was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct, the first in his nearly 1000 game career. The contact was heavy but MacKinnon was directed into the crease by Nurse, which made it a tough call to swallow. Thus, Edmonton held on to their 3-2 lead at the second intermission.

One of the best skaters in the world with blades pointed left. Was likely going to avoid contact all together until the Nurse contact.

Just crazy to call it a major for goalie interference IMO #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/bSkG4L3Dzh

— Drew Livingstone (@ProducerDrew_) March 11, 2026

Colorado got some new life after killing the entire major penalty to begin the third period and then were rewarded when Val Nichushkin continued his renaissance and found the equalizer on a great pas from Sam Malinski. That joy was short-lived when Edmonton played pass-and-catch on the power play between Draisaitl and McDavid to which the latter cashed in on to take the lead once again.

The Avalanche got some looks with the net empty but were not able to convert and Edmonton secured their 4-3 win.

Takeaways

Colorado was down to 10 forwards following MacKinnon’s ejection when Ross Colton also left the game due to an upper-body injury. Post game commentary didn’t make the ailment sound too serious but we’ll see when Colton is able to return in the lineup as the Avalanche are starting to stack up some missing forwards.

Ross Colton took a shot up high and tightened up. That's why he left the game.

Bednar is hopeful he can feel better tomorrow and play in Seattle but not guaranteed

— Aarif Deen (@runwriteAarif) March 11, 2026

Games like this where the defensive effort was lacking early on underscore that Colorado doesn’t have a heavy competitive advantage on the back end like they did years prior. Also, the lack of focus after two big divisional wins seemed to creep up again before the jumbled lines due to aforementioned missing forwards made a comeback attempt more difficult.

Upcoming

A trip to the Pacific Northwest to face the Seattle Kraken at 8 p.m. MT on Thursday, March 12th.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/colo...verage/62382/recap-oilers-thump-avalanche-4-3

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers (8:00 p.m.)

DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 16: Devon Toews #7 of the Colorado Avalanche fights for the puck against Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers in the third period at Ball Arena on January 16, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Colorado Avalanche are once again riding a five-game winning streak after beating both the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild via shootout last week, and they’ll look to make it six straight against an Edmonton Oilers team that simply can’t seem to keep the puck out of their own net.

Late night with the oilers. pic.twitter.com/QbSsbWDkhL

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 10, 2026

Edmonton’s defensive issues — both in their own zone and between the pipes — have been a constant problem lately, resulting in a 4–6 record over their last ten games. It’s a frustrating stretch for a team that can score with anyone in the league, but one that continues to give just as much back the other way.

Meanwhile, Colorado continues to do what contenders do this time of year: stack wins.

Colorado Avalanche: 43-10-9​

The Opponent: Edmonton Oilers (31-25-8)

Time: 8:00 p.m. MT

Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, ESPN+

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM

Colorado Avalanche​

The Colorado Avalanche welcomed the return of Nazem Kadri the last time they were on home ice and were able to secure the victory despite not having Artturi Lehkonen or Gabe Landeskog in the lineup. Colorado has managed to stay afloat through the injuries thanks to its depth and elite top end — the club still sits among the league leaders in scoring while MacKinnon remains near the top of the NHL scoring race.

Landeskog’s injury has been covered at length due to its occurrence in a uniquely “uncomfortable” region of the body, but it still came as a surprise on game day. He was given the week-to-week distinction, but Landeskog has proven that nothing can keep him from playing hockey for long. Here he is at morning skate:

Gabe Landeskog in sweats on the bench and Logan O’Connor on the ice as morning skate gets underway #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/0qJbR3OzQ6

— Colleen Flynn (@FerPucksSake) March 10, 2026

Lehkonen, on the other hand, has a bit of mystery surrounding his status. What was originally suspected to be an injury from wearing a puck up high has now shifted to speculation about other parts of the upper body. I’m sure we will get a Lehky update, either pre- or postgame, as most are eager to see what this Avalanche squad looks like when fully healthy.

Projected Lineup:​

Martin Necas — Nathan MacKinnon — Nazem Kadri
Ross Colto — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Parker Kelly — Nicolas Roy — Gavin Brindley
Zakhar Bardakov — Jack Drury — Joel Kiviranta

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Brett Kulak — Sam Malinski

Note: Both Landeskog and Lehkonen are listed as OUT as of right now.

MacKenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Edmonton Oilers​

Edmonton’s struggles are pretty obvious, but it feels like every effort management makes to settle the issue just reaggravates the ineptitude.

Acquiring the services of Tristan Jarry hasn’t stemmed the goals-against tide. In fact, the Oilers continue to give up more than 3 goals per game, placing them in the bottom third of the league defensively.

Whenever you employ Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, scoring goals shouldn’t be an issue — and it hasn’t been. Edmonton sits among the NHL’s highest-scoring teams and boasts the league’s most dangerous power play, converting on more than 32.8 percent of its opportunities. That offensive firepower hasn’t consistently translated to wins because the defensive commitment simply hasn’t been there on a nightly basis.

Wayne Gretzky says Oilers will be fine and will play better down the stretch.

@EdmontonOilers pic.twitter.com/u475YfLNBG

— Bleed Oil Blue (@BleedOilBlue) March 8, 2026

If Colorado can force Edmonton to play in its own end — something the Avalanche have done well during this current winning streak — the matchup could once again turn into a track meet. And while that might be Edmonton’s comfort zone offensively, it’s also exactly where their defensive problems tend to show up the most.

Projected Lineup:​

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — Connor McDavid — Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin — Leon Draisaitl — Jack Roslovic
Matthew Savoie — Jason Dickinson — Kasperi Kapanen
Colton Dach — Josh Samanski — Trent Frederic

Mattias Ekholm — Evan Bouchard
Jake Walman — Connor Murphy
Darnell Nurse — Ty Emberson

Connor Ingram
Trysten Jarry

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/open...colorado-avalanche-at-edmonton-oilers-800-p-m

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs. Seattle Kraken (8:00 p.m. MT)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 16: Adam Larsson #6 of the Seattle Kraken skates against Parker Kelly #17 of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period of a game at Climate Pledge Arena on December 16, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Liv Lyons/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

After a frustrating loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, the Colorado Avalanche head back out on the road tonight to take on the Seattle Kraken. This will be the second out of three regular-season matchups between these two teams, with the Avs having won the first game by a final score of 5-3.

Colorado Avalanche (43-11-9)​

The Avs come into this game off a 4-3 loss to the Oilers on Tuesday, as previously mentioned. In that game, Nathan MacKinnon was given a 5-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for goaltender interference, and Ross Colton left the game early as well, so the Avs were down to 10 forwards for the later stages of the game. And yet, Colorado was still only down by a goal at that point; they were just unable to capitalize, and it was an overall frustrating game. Tonight, they have a chance to get back on track against the Kraken, who are currently in a fight for a playoff spot.

Projected Lineup​

Nazem Kadri – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Joel Kiviranta – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Parker Kelly – Nicolas Roy – Gavin Brindley
Zakhar Bardakov – Jack Drury

Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski – Nick Blankenburg

Scott Wedgewood

Mackenzie Blackwood

Seattle Kraken (29-25-9)​

As previously mentioned, the Kraken are currently in a very tight playoff race for the second wildcard spot in the West. Seattle currently holds that spot, but three other teams are hot on their heels in the standings: the Kings, the Sharks, and the Predators. With about only 20 games left in the regular season, every single point and win matters that much more for the Kraken as they try to secure that wildcard spot for the playoffs.

Projected Lineup​

Jared McCann – Matty Beniers – Jordan Eberle
Eeli Tolvanen – Chandler Stephenson – Frederick Gaudreau
Berkly Catton – Shane Wright – Kaapo Kakko
Ryan Winterton – Ben Meyers – Jacob Melanson

Vince Dunn – Adam Larsson
Ryan Lindgren – Brandon Montour
Jamie Oleksiak – Ryker Evans

Philipp Grubauer
Joey Daccord

Follow along in the comments below!

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/open...lorado-avalanche-vs-seattle-kraken-800-p-m-mt

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

MHH Roundtable: Is the Avalanche defense improved enough?

DENVER, CO - MAY 01: Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (39) looks on at the performance of the national anthem (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

After a wild and monumental trade deadline which saw the return of Nazem Kadri, the Colorado Avalanche have their roster for the remainder of the 2025-26 season in hopes that it will end with a Stanley Cup. Here we unpack where this team stands heading into the stretch run of the regular season.

What are your expectations for Nazem Kadri in his return to Colorado?

Jess: In short, my expectations and want for Nazem Kadri is to be Nazem Kadri. This is a player who’s already familiar with the team, system, and play style, and one who’s already been successful with this team at the highest level. We know what he brings to this team already, and rightfully so, the Avs really like what he can bring; they wouldn’t have gone out and brought him back if they didn’t. While Kadri might have been having a bit of a down year in Calgary points-wise, he’ll no doubt have a far better supporting cast around him in Colorado. If he can come in and be himself, I have no doubt that he’ll be a very effective player for the Avs throughout the remainder of this regular season and the playoffs.

Matthew: First of all, I’d like to say that I predicted this trade in our previous roundtable, even though I thought it was wishful thinking at the time. Now that he’s here, my expectations for Kadri are not to be the player that we last saw in 2022. That may sound a little weird, but what I mean is that I don’t expect him to be the player that was initially brought in as the Avs second line center back in 2019. He’s free of those expectations (and there was a great deal of concern going into that 2021-2022 season that he wasn’t living up to those expectations, after all) with Brock Nelson firmly penciled into that spot. The third line center position is exactly where I expect him to be, unless those pesky injuries continue to force him into the top six, where he has thrived since his return. He’ll be free to play to the best of his abilities that have made him so difficult to play against in his career as the Avs’ third line center, without all that responsibility he had previously. His presence will immediately make that third line a headache for opponents like Dallas and Minnesota, and with his ability to get under people’s skin, he will be able to bait opponents into taking penalties. He’s already seen time on the power play, which paid immediate dividends with him being on that top unit. I expect him to remain a force in the face-off circle, which will be an invaluable advantage on the third line, and if he can rediscover some of that playoff scoring he had in his last playoff series with Colorado, a fourth Stanley Cup may not be just wishful thinking after all.

Jackie: I don’t expect a the 87 points like what he provided Colorado in 2021-22 but I think Kadri will play a lot of minutes on this Avalanche team. There’s simply too much of a need for supplementary scoring, I wouldn’t even call Kadri secondary scoring because they really need consistent output from him. Kadri might also rescue the power play enough to pull it out of the basement, though this squad has a long way to go to ever call it a strength. In short, I expect a top six player regardless of who else is in the lineup.

Did the Avalanche do enough to improve their defense?

Jess: Personally, I think they’ll be fine. You can certainly make the argument that they didn’t make the flashiest moves on defense, which is entirely fair, but I don’t think they needed to do so at this deadline. My biggest need for them on defense heading into this deadline was an NHL-regular 7th defenseman to be your “break glass in case of emergency” guy, which they went out and got Blankenburg for. On top of that, this is a team that plays good team defense way more often than not, which is also why I think they’ll be fine at the end of the day with their defensive core.

Matthew: The Avs have gone to the well over the past couple years trying to add that top-four defender in the hopes of being tougher to play against, and each time, those gambles fell short. Scott Walker and Ryan Lindgren came at a heavy cost and ultimately, failed to be that difference on defense in the past. Are Brett Kulak and Nick Blankenburg enough? In a vacuum, no. Collectively? Perhaps. Kulak has been pretty solid since his arrival from Pittsburgh, and even though he’s a couple of years shy of his best offensive production, being part of the Edmonton Oilers’ run to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals illustrates that he’s well aware of what it takes to go the distance. That kind of experience will matter for his defensive partner in Sam Malinski, and even for a guy like Brent Burns, who is hoping for his second Stanley Cup Final ever in comparison to Kulak’s two consecutive Finals (Burns appeared in the Stanley Cup Final with San Jose ten years ago).

The addition of Nick Blankenburg also signified that the Avs value a defender in the Sam Girard mold, but of a more physical nature. Whether Blankenburg sees any time in this postseason is unknown, but it’s hard not to look at the current blue line and feel that this is a group that can get the job done, especially if Devon Toews can shake the doldrums nagging him this season and Cale Makar can bust his scoring slump that plagued him in the playoffs last season.

Jackie: No, this defense is not improved and if anything the Avalanche have lost their competitive advantage on the back end. I still believe Cale Makar is the best defenseman in the world but he alone doesn’t make an entire defense and even he’s had some struggles this season. Hot take alert: in the playoffs I don’t think the Avalanche will be favored in the defense portion of many matchups.

How confident are you in the Lumberyard?

Jess: Very confident. One of my friends and I were actually talking about the stark difference between their goaltending tandem right now compared to even 16 months ago now the other day, and the difference is still jarring to look at. With Blackwood and Wedgewood, whenever either of them is having an off night where they just don’t have it, and you have to swap them, i.e., the Dallas game the other day, you still feel confident that whichever goalie is stepping in is going to be able to give you a good chance to win a game, which is such a privilege to have, especially when you look at how they got here.

Jackie: I believe in the tandem of Blackwood and Wedgewood, if it stays just that — a tandem. It doesn’t have to be a straight up rotation but utilizing both has got them to this point and the Avalanche shouldn’t abandon what’s made them successful to this point. I understand the impulse to try and anoint Blackwood the true starter given the investment in him but Wedgewood is a big part of this team and shouldn’t be relegated to full-time backup. We just saw the other night in Dallas what Wedgewood can do to help this team win.

Matthew: Scott Wedgewood is having the year of his life, and I am here for it. He’s been the consummate pro all season long, having been pressed into a role that many felt was beyond his limitations as a goalie, and he’s surpassed all expectations. What’s more, he understands the assignment. He’s been supportive of Mackenzie Blackwood through and through, squashing any rumors of a “goalie controversy” in Denver. The game in Dallas back on March 06 is a perfect example: Blackwood struggled in goal, and Wedgewood came in to steady the ship when it needed a calm, sure hand. His postgame comments (which I recommend everyone to go back and watch) that night are incredibly insightful, and all the while, remain focused on the concept of what mattered most: getting the win.

While Blackwood remains the undisputed starting goalie, and has been prone to more than a few rough nights recently, he is more than capable of returning to the form that he displayed after being acquired last season. What’s more, he will certainly want to reward the faith management has in him after signing that five-year contract last season, and write his own redemption arc after the first round loss to Dallas. Add in that unshakeable support from Wedgewood, and that unwritten understanding that goaltenders can’t stand losing, it’s hard not to believe in them rising to the occasion after how last year’s postseason turned out.

Who will be the most impactful depth player down the stretch?

Jess: I’ll go with Parker Kelly. He’s been a bit of an underrated add for the Avs since they picked him up in free agency after Ottawa didn’t give him a qualifying offer. He’s already smashed past his previous career high in goals so far, having recorded 15 on the season as of the time I’m writing this, and I think he’ll continue to score and make a major offensive impact in the bottom-six forward group as we come to the end of the regular season and head into the playoffs. I’m not sure what exactly was done to unlock this offensive side of his game in Colorado, but it’s been so fun to watch him really find that side of his game.

Jackie: Hopefully it’s Nicolas Roy considering the organization gave up a first round pick to acquire him. Seeing him score in his second game in Colorado leads to optimism that will come to fruition but he’s got to find consistency and trust from the coaching staff to give him more minutes.

Matthew: It may be lofty expectations, but if Logan O’Connor can return to the lineup relatively soon and get ramped up by the time the regular season ends, I think he can make a case for being the most impactful…in the right usage. Remember, Gabe Landeskog was deployed very strategically in the playoffs last year, and while O’Connor could have a longer runway to prepare for the playoffs by comparison, I think Bednar will utilize him in areas that play to his strengths. He would certainly be a perfect compliment on the fourth line with Parker Kelly and Jack Drury, where he could use his energetic forecheck in limited, but calculated, doses. Putting him back on the penalty kill would also be a specialized focus where O’Connor has excelled previously—he’s not called the Shorty King for nothing—and his presence there could provide Jared Bednar with some flexibility if the Avs find themselves on the wrong end of the special teams spectrum as the regular season winds down. I realize there’s a lot of “ifs” and a very heavy dose of optimism for this to take place given that he’s attempting to come back from two very serious hip procedures over the past two seasons, but if there is a candidate that can make an impact under the right circumstances in a lineup as deep as the Avs have this season, the Mayor of Denver has my vote!

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/mhh-...-roundtable-is-the-avalanche-defense-improved