Avalanche Reaching Milestones In 2024-25 & 3 Positional Needs That Need To Be Addressed
Also, Cale Makar's resume makes a strong case to enter the Hall of Fame
Welcome to the THW Colorado Avalanche Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Avalanche writers.
Avalanche Set to Pass Major Milestones in 2024-25
July 30, 2024 by Kerry Collins
Last season was a pretty good one for a few Colorado Avalanche players. Both Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon hit 100 points in back-to-back seasons – helping MacKinnon take home his first Hart Memorial Trophy. Defenseman Cale Makar continued his offensive dominance, picking up his 250th-career assist. He also became the franchise’s career leader in points by a defenseman (336) despite playing in just his fifth season.
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3 Avalanche Positional Needs to Address Before the 2024-25 Season
July 30, 2024 by Stefano Rubino
Last season, general manager Chris MacFarland was ready to make calls at the trade deadline to fill in any gaps. In a perfect world, he wouldn’t need to wait until the deadline to make those calls this season. Still, the Avalanche are constrained by the salary cap and may need to wait until the Landeskog and Nichushkin situations are resolved and more funds become available. Players will get injured, have cold stretches or won’t click with the team, so changes must be made. Here are three positions the Avalanche will need to improve by the trade deadline.
Makar Making Strong Hall of Fame Case: 2024 Offseason Update
July 30, 2024 by Marko Zlomislic
The key criteria used in Hall of Fame discussions are the length of a player’s career, their cumulative offensive output, and the number of individual and team-based awards and accolades. Of the eligible inducted defensemen, most have met or achieved at least two out of five specific individual or team-based milestones over their NHL career: 1,000 games played, 750 points, being named a First-Team NHL All-Star, at least one Norris Trophy, and at least one Stanley Cup.
2024-25 Is Make-or-Break for Avalanche’s Jonathan Drouin
July 29, 2024 by Ryan Womeldorf
For a time, it looked like he may live up to the exceptional hype, but a high level of production never materialized. Yet here we are, 10 years into his NHL career, and Jonathan Drouin may have a chance to finally make “the leap” and earn himself a long-term contract.
Colorado Avalanche Won’t Be Contenders This Season
July 25, 2024 by Ryan Womeldorf
After being dispatched by the Dallas Stars in the second round of the NHL Playoffs, the Avalanche made adjustments in free agency and added to the prospect pipeline in the 2024 NHL Draft. Going into the 2024-25 season, however, there are glaring weaknesses that must be addressed. Unfortunately, they aren’t short-term solutions, and the Avalanche could struggle to contend once again.
