Colorado Avalanche Roundup: Preseason Schedule Released
The Colorado Avalanche have released their preseason schedule, which can help us determine some other important dates.
The Colorado Avalanche haven’t exactly been busy the last few days, but news and rumors are coming up. One of the most exciting bits of news is that the team has released its preseason schedule.
Here’s how the schedule looks:
- Sept. 18, 2018: Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche
- Sept. 22, 2018: Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild
- Sept. 24, 2018: Avalanche at Knights
- Sept. 26, 2018: Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche
- Sept. 28, 2018: Wild at Avalanche
- Sept. 30, 2018: Avalanche at Stars
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A few observations. First of all, for whatever reason (not enough caramel macchiato at Starbucks perhaps), the NHL always dribbles out the preseason schedule. In fact, while the Avs are one of the first, say, 10 teams to get to release their preseason schedule, it’s two weeks later than last year.
Second, the Avalanche used to play the LA Kings every year in Vegas as part of the Frozen Fury. Now it appears the Avs will play the Knights in the preseason every year — they did so last season. (Neither the Knights nor the Kings have released their preseason schedules, but they did play each other in the preseason last year.)
Third, the Colorado Avalanche get to keep living rent-free in the Wild’s head this summer. That’s right, Minnesota, Nathan MacKinnon and his magic hockey stick are coming for you.
Finally, with the release of the preseason schedule, we can make some suppositions about training camp and the Burgundy and White game. The Burgundy and White game is typically the Sunday before the first preseason game, so pencil in September 16.
The intra-squad scrimmage is usually culmination of three days of training camp, so expect that to go September 12-15, with one day dedicated to physicals for the returning players. Rookie camp will probably be September 10-11. If there is a Prospect Showcase, it will likely run the previous week.
No news yet on when Prospect Development Camp is taking place. The Vegas Golden Knights are holding theirs from June 25 to 30. Last year the Colorado Avalanche held theirs from June 27 to 29, which is earlier than previous years when they held it right around July 4.
The 2018 NHL Draft takes place June 22 to 23. It’s conceivable the Avs will hold their Prospect Development Camp right after. I imagine we’ll see some familiar faces from last year, such as winger Nick Henry and goalie Petr Kvaca. And I fully expect both Cale Makar and Conor Timmins to participate. Plus, of course, whomever the Avs draft this season.
So, once Free Agency Frenzy and Prospect Development Camp are over, we really only have about six weeks without hockey. Say what you want about playing hockey in summer, I love the length of the schedule.