Colorado Avalanche Mount Rushmore Monument Nominees

Adam Foote

Avalanche games played: 760
Honors as an Avalanche: 1996, 2001 Stanley Cup

Choosing the final Avalanche great for Mount Puckmore was much more challenging than the first three. The first three all had their numbers retired by the Avs and are in the Hockey Hall of Fame at least partially because of the Avalanche contributions.

Defenseman Ray Bourque has also had his number retired by the team, and he’s in the HHOF. However, that’s largely because of his contributions to the Boston Bruins. Defenseman Rob Blake is also a HHOFer, but he hasn’t had his number retired by the Avs — that’s just criteria I’m working with.

If we’re talking strictly a Colorado Avalanche Mount Puckmore, then the decision comes down to Adam Foote and Milan Hejduk. Both are equally worthy, but I had to choose just one. So I chose Foote, only because he won one more Stanley Cup with Colorado than Hejduk. (There had to be some tie-breaker.)

Like I said, though, you could just as easily give the spot to Milan Hejduk because he spent his entire career with the Avs.

In this section, I’d also like to foreshadow who may eventually take that final spot decisively — center Nathan MacKinnon. He’s already played all five of his NHL seasons (374 games) with Colorado. He has 303 points (114 goals, 189 assists) and a Calder Trophy to his name. Indeed, he’s the Avalanche’s only first-overall draft pick, and he’s living up to the hype.

What say you, Colorado Avalanche fans? Can you argue with the first three players on Mount Puckmore? Who’s your choice for the fourth bust? Leave your comments below.