Colorado Avalanche 2017-18 Season Preview

Past to Future

The Colorado Avalanche went from dead last in the Western Conference to winning the Central Division four years ago. Despite the fact that they’ve reprised their motto from the 2013-14 season, I don’t see such a turnaround happening again.

However, I fully expect the Avalanche to improve on their record from last season. Each of their core players had a down year, sometimes matching the worst in his career. That will surely improve.

To a man, the players who are returning from last year seem bound and determined to put the past behind them. What’s more, many of them have expressed the desire to prove naysayers wrong. I think it’s safe to say that the majority of the returning players have a chip on their shoulders about the upcoming season.

This season also represents a stride into the youth movement that GM Joe Sakic has promised. The roster is comprised mostly of Millennials (born in the 1990s). There are only two players in their 30s and only three others near the 30-year-old mark. Many of the players in the mix are prospects whom the Avalanche developed themselves.