Alex Tanguay, 500 Avalanche Games
Colorado Avalanche left wing Alex Tanguay has played 500 games in burgundy and blue. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche used a first-round draft pick — 12th overall — on a youngster named Alex Tanguay back in 1998. He was a draftee well chosen. Tanguay spent his first six seasons with the Colorado Avalanche. He maintained a consistent presence all that time and was known for being one of the “young core” of the team. (Sound familiar?)
Now, after a couple stints with the Calgary Flames and a couple other dalliances, Tanguay has returned to the Avalanche a grizzled veteran. His impact last season was seriously limited due to injuries. However, he’s showing the Avs Nation this season what they were missing. He currently leads the team in goals with 12 and is second only to Jarome Iginla in points.
On December 29, the Avalanche played the Blues in St. Louis, and that marked Tanguay’s 500th in burgundy and blue. He’s at 975 regular-season games in the NHL. He’s tantalizingly close to another mark as well, with 798 regular-season points.
And then there’s the post-season. The Colorado Avalanche will always remember Tanguay fondly for being Mr. Clutch and scoring the Cup-Winning goal against the New Jersey Devils in 2001.
Tanguay smiles at that memory, joking, “I wanted to score more!” With the way he’s going, it looks likely he will.