Colorado Avalanche: 5 Things That Need to Happen for Successful Season

Jan 30, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Jamie McGinn (11) and Minnesota Wild defenseman Nate Prosser (39) fight in the third period at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche defeated the Wild 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Have the Will to Win

If a team is supposed to win, it has to a) actually be a team and b) want to win. For the Colorado Avalanche, I wouldn’t even say that they don’t want to win. Judging by player interviews, it seems like most players are really motivated and judging by the 2014-15 season finale, the team doesn’t seem to give up when things aren’t perfect.

However, throughout last season, there was one question that came up every once in a while. To be honest, the way this question tended to come up was me yelling at the TV: “What the *insert emphasizing word that may or may not start with an ‘f’* are you doing in the NHL?!” Similar questions revolved around the team not playing like an NHL team, but rather like a bunch of well-paid beer league players.

Now, none of this is pessimism or anything against this year’s team. It is just a fact: If you want your team to win — in any sport and any league –, you need players who want to win and do everything it takes to achieve that goal. Will to win isn’t everything, but it’s a start. Let’s hope Roy finds the right words ahead of Thursdays game and the 81 coming after that.

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