The preseason is over and NHL rosters are due on Monday. There’s no question the Avalanche have their work cut out for them until at least both Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin are back. Expect a lot of minutes again for reigning Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon and star defenseman Cale Makar in October.
Could the Avs weather the storm early in the season? Sure. But for how long?
This roster and all of the question marks surrounding a few of the bigger names will make Colorado one of the more fascinating teams to watch in 2024-25.
Here are my predictions for what opening night will look like.
Forwards
Jonathan Drouin – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen
Nikolai Kovalenko – Casey Mittelstadt – Calum Ritchie
Miles Wood – Ross Colton – Logan O’Connor
Ivan Ivan – Parker Kelly – Joel Kiviranta
*waiver claim as 13th forward
Sent down/waivers: T.J. Tynan, Chris Wagner, Ondrej Pavel
Injured/Suspended: Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen
This is pretty straightforward. We’ve seen head coach Jared Bednar try a few things over the last few days, which I’ve written about. But whether it’s Colton on the wing, Ritchie at center, Kelly in the top nine, Wood on the fourth line, or any other maneuvering, I don’t think it’ll happen before this lineup gets the first chance.
The familiarity of the Wood, Colton, O’Connor line, despite not always looking great during camp, will allow Bednar the opportunity to see what Ritchie and Kovalenko can do in elevated roles. And with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare’s release, it’s all but set for Ivan to get a crack at the opening night lineup. He or Kiviranta would likely be the first to sit once Lehkonen is healthy.
As for the 13th forward, I think it’s safe to assume the Avs are going to dip into the waiver wire for this. It felt a few days ago like Bellemare would probably get a contract and be the final piece of the forward group to start the year. But without him, the team doesn’t have many other options. Both Tynan and Wagner were placed on waivers on Saturday, meaning they could be sent down if they clear on Sunday. And Pavel has been injured for most of camp and isn’t an option.
Jason Polin didn’t earn the spot. Neither did Jean-Luc Foudy or Oskar Olausson. Unless they plan to carry 12 healthy forwards to start the year, it makes the most sense that someone is going to get claimed by Wednesday’s season opener in Vegas.
Defense
Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Samuel Girard – Josh Manson
Calvin de Haan – Sam Malinski
John Ludvig
Erik Brannstrom
Sent down/waivers: Oliver Kylington
The waiver claim for Ludvig on Saturday came as somewhat of a surprise. The Avs always seemed ready to open the season with the eight defensemen we’ve been talking about since August. But, that might not be the case anymore. My belief is Ludvig was claimed because one of Brannstrom or Kylington is going to get placed on waivers. And if I had to venture a guess, I’d say it’s the latter.
It’s worth noting the team could carry nine defensemen and 12 forwards, but it’s highly unlikely. Kylington has struggled, a lot, throughout camp. Brannstrom too, but not quite to Kylington’s level. Ludvig is a physical presence the team is lacking on the blueline outside of Manson and could probably replace de Haan in the lineup at some point. But I’d be willing to bet de Haan starts on Wednesday after having weeks of familiarity with Bednar compared to Ludvig.
Tough to see it play out this way for Kylington if he were to land on waivers. But, it’s a results-oriented business.
Goalies
Alexandar Georgiev
Justus Annunen
Not much to say here. Let’s all hope the regular season isn’t going to be filled with trade rumors and speculation about the next backup goalie the Avs might trade for.
