NHL Central Division Predictions for the 2024-25 Season
2. Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche finished last season with 107 points and third in the Central.
Colorado didn't add much. They signed a new third pair with Oliver Kylington and Erik Brannstrom and the rest of their signings aren't projected to play with the team this season. The majority of their signings that were noteworthy were extensions. The Avs were able to keep Casey Mittelstadt, Jonathan Drouin and their backup goalie Justus Annunen.
They lost Yakov Trenin, Brandon Duhaime, Sean Walker, and Jack Johnson.
The forward core for Colorado does have some question marks around it. Nichushkin is in the NHL/NHLPA players assistance program so we aren't sure if he will play and if he does, when he will play, Landeskog might play but what will that look like if he does back on the ice after missing all of last year. The Avalanche performed well without Landeskog but the loss of Nichushkin is going to hurt Colorado.
Even with those two factors, when you have MacKinnon and Rantanen on your roster you'll score enough goals. They also have Mittelstadt and Drouin who both had solid years last season as well as a solid third-line centre in Ross Colton.
Their goaltending is fine. Georgiev isn't my favourite goalie but you could do worse for a starter. Annunen had a solid year last year in 14 games. He posted a .928 save percentage, 9.86 goals saved above average, and 13.37 goals saved above expected. It is a small sample size and his stats will drop once he plays more games but if he can hover even around a .905, he would be a good backup option.
Where this team is the strongest is on the blue line. Makar is the best defenseman in the league and the pairing of him and Toews is one of the best pairs in the NHL. Girard and Manson was a solid pairing. What is interesting is their third pair. It isn't a third pairing you typically see with Brannstrom and Kylington not being big guys and also being more puck-moving guys rather than bruising defensemen. I do like the bets on the third pair they made. I think there is upside with both guys and they didn't use much cap to sign them.
Colorado has question marks on the forward core but I'm betting on their stars coming through like they usually do. The Avs have home ice against Nashville in round one.