2018-2019 NHL Preview: Colorado Avalanche

In this 31 part series, I will be working my way back from 31st to 1st in my projected 2017-2018 standings. Eighth up are the Colorado Avalanche (currently in their 23^rd year in the NHL) who made the playoffs last year (for the first time in four seasons) before losing to the Predators in the first round of the playoffs.

2017 – 2018 NHL Stats:

NHL Standings: 17th
Goals for Rank: 14th
Goals against Rank: 10th
PP Rank: 8th
PK Rank: 4th

Projected 2018-2019 NHL Stats

NHL Standings: 25th
Western Conference Standings: 12th
Pacific Division Standings: 6th
Coach: Jared Bednar (65-86-13 regular season; 2-4 playoffs)

Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

Overview:

Remember last year when everyone thought that Colorado would be one of the worst teams in the league? Well they went out and had the 2^nd fewest shots for and the 27^th most shots against. Yet despite all of that, they had a stellar offensive production AND defensive command. Nathan MacKinnon with one of the biggest point production turn arounds in NHL history, shooting 13.7%, MIkko Rantanen with 84 points shooting 16.3%, Gabriel Landeskog 13.7% and Alexander Kerfoot with 23.5%, I just don’t see these figures repeating. The top line of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen is among the top 10 in the league but beyond that it diminishes greatly. On defense, there isn’t a whole lot here, Nikita Zadarov and Tyson Barrie aren’t a great top line, Samuel Girard and Erik Johnson aren’t that much better behind them. In net, Semyon Varlamov (2.68GAA; .920Sv %) and Jonathan Bernier (2.85GAA; .913%) were more than enough to keep them in games sporting the 6^th highest save percentage in the league. Without these two standing on their heads, this team concedes a lot more goals last year. I don’t see that repeating this year.

Major Additions:

Ian Cole, Matt Calvert

Major Subtractions:

Nail Yakupov

Prospects and Picks:

-Martin Kraut. With the 16^th overall pick in the 2018 draft, the Avalanche drafted Kraut who put up 16 points across 38 games in the Czech league last year. He plays position hockey very well, he can score, he can pass, he even plays two way hockey! The two major flaws in his game surround his stature and his effort which can be lackluster at times.

-Cale Maker. I was real big on this pick 4^th overall last year. After putting up 75 points in 54 games in the AJHL he played in Hockey East for UMass-Amherst last year where he had 21 points in 34 games. In April he made it official he’s headed back for another year, it will take some time to get him in Colorado but he when he does he sould be impactful.

Sleeper Fantasy Asset:

-Tyson Jost. The likely 2^nd line center will be entering his 2^nd full NHL season. As the 10^th overall pick in the 2016 draft, Tyson put up just 22 points in 65 games last year. This year with an increased role, he should be seeing 2^nd line minutes coupled with some time on the top power play. I would look for his 8ppp to increase, his 12 goals to increase and his total points to go up to the low 40’s, maybe even edging close to the 50’s.

Cap Situation:

$53MM Spent; $24M in Cap room; 20 players signed; average team age 25