Top 5 Avalanche to Watch 2015-16

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Dec 17, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) and center Matt Duchene (9) and center Nathan MacKinnon (29) and defenseman Erik Johnson (6) celebrate Duchenes goal against Dallas Stars goalie Dan Ellis (not pictured) during the first period at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Saying Colorado Avalanche fans were disappointed by the 2014-15 season is something more than an understatement. I’d like to think we’ve pretty much shook off that year, though, and we’re ready for Redemption Season.

The 2013-14 season was a dream — one in which the players say they felt like they were on a high the whole time. The 2014-15 season was one fraught with injuries and indecision. Now, with the 2015-16 season, we’re finally going to see what the Avalanche’s mettle is.

We know by now how our core players are. We know who the newbies are. Which five players, though, are we going to be watching most closely, not only because we want to see what they’re capable of but also what they can do for the team?

Matt Duchene

Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene is a pure goal scorer. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Avalanche center Matt Duchene is our franchise player. As such, eyes will always be on him.

Duchene has had a streaky career thus far. Since being picked third-overall by Colorado in 2009, he’s only played one full season (last season) but has come close three other times. He’s had four 20+ goal seasons and four 50+ point seasons.

Last season wasn’t exactly a low since he had both 20+ goals (21) and 50+ points (55), which was good enough to put him in fourth place on the Avalanche. However, there were stretches of time during which Duchene just seemed to disappear.

Avalanche fans still want to believe that Duchene is going to be one of our stars. He certainly makes pretty enough goals. He certainly has the skating ability — he’s one of the fastest on the team, and it’s been said he’s faster in the corners than Nathan MacKinnon. He certainly has a certain panache. I think it’s safe to say the majority of Avs Nation wants to see him have a stellar year — maybe break the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career.

Nathan MacKinnon

Dec 20, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Andre Benoit (61) and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) go after a loose puck during the first period at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

After Matt Duchene, forward Nathan MacKinnon is considered the great hope for the Colorado Avalanche. He was our first-ever #1 draft pick, and he lived up to the hype right away, going on to win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.

Needless to say, his 14 goals and 24 assists in a season shortened by injury were not the totals anyone was hoping to see last year. Avalanche coaching kept him sheltered, but as he slowly took on more responsibility, it seemed like he couldn’t get a rhythm going. It’d be easy to write off the whole season if it was all disappointing. However, the 2014-15 season saw MacKinnon get in his first NHL fight and score his first NHL hat trick — those are big milestones for a teenaged hockey player.

Of course, the season also saw MacKinnon fade completely into the background, not even scoring a goal until the 11th game of the season — at which point he scored two. He bounced down to the third line pretty regularly, and even sat on the bench for a while. He had his nose broken in a game against the Minnesota Wild, lost his roommate/teammate when Max Talbot got traded and then saw the season end in a broken foot.

Water under the bridge. MacKinnon turns 20 on September 1, so he won’t be a teen anymore. Judging by social media and the news, he spent the summer bumming around (and training and committing acts of charity) with NHL superstar Sidney Crosby.

We’re all hoping this summer was a growing up process for him, and he’s going to slowly take over the reins of top-six center this season.

Erik Johnson

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson is going to need a new defensive partner in the near future. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Barring the man himself, I daresay few people were more disappointed than I was that defenseman Erik Johnson’s season got cut short with the need for arthroscopic knee surgery. (Ok, there was a whole team of people and a coaching staff who were pretty disappointed.)

At the conclusion of the 2013-14 year, Johnson says the Avalanche coaching staff charged him with building his stamina so he could take on a bigger role on the team. He was flourishing in that role in the 47 games he got to play.

Erik Johnson was finally having the season he was meant to have. The 2013-14 saw him match his career-best numbers, but he looked ready to bust them wide open in 2014-15. By the time he underwent the, well, arthroscope in January, he’d already collected a career-high 12 goals. He was leading the team in ice time. He was leading the team both on and off the ice as well.

We want to see Johnson take over that mantle of leadership. We want to see him thrive and quarterback the blueline. He has the talent, the skill and the work ethic to be the cornerstone, the #1 D-man for Colorado. He’s due.

Nikita Zadorov

Nov 28, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Nikita Zadorov (51) during the game against the Montreal Canadiens at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Defenseman Nikita Zadorov is yet another youngster on a steep learning curve in the NHL. Just 20 years old, the big Russian (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) is already entering his third season in the NHL. He came over from the Buffalo Sabres in the Ryan O’Reilly trade.

Zadorov has a very different role than an Erik Johnson. Zadorov is a shut-down defenseman. He’s meant to check opponents in every way possible, including full-on body checks. However, he’s a talented skater and pretty decent at moving the puck up the ice.

The Colorado Avalanche have been wanting/needing a defenseman like this for a while. Personally, I hope he’s going to take on the role of defender, crushing opponents who get handsy (or sticksy) with skill players such as Duchene, MacKinnon and his proposed linemate, Tyson Barrie.

I think Avs Nation is curious about what he can do for our defensive corps, for sure.

Mikhail Grigorenko

Sep 21, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Mikhail Grigorenko (25) waits for a face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The other big unknown for Avs fans is Mikhail Grigorenko, who also came over in the Ryan O’Reilly trade.

By now you’ve heard the stories. He was a much-heralded draft pick by the Sabres. He was a force at major juniors. However, he struggled on a struggling Buffalo team, and there were contractual disputes. Nothing on the level of Ryan O’Reilly’s contractual disputes, but Grigorenko did hint that he wanted to sign with the KHL rather than deal with Buffalo any longer.

That was then, this is now — and now he’s on a team that can offer him more support. He’s going to be playing for head coach Patrick Roy again, who helped him achieve success at major juniors. He has only a one-year contract, which means he has to prove himself.

We all want to see him prove himself. He has the potential to score highlight reel goals. He has the potential to be a real offensive force. Obviously we want to see him become that player with the Colorado Avalanche — and 2015-16 is his year to do it.

What about you, Avs Nation? Which players are you Keeping an eye on next season?

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