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Colorado Avalanche: Top 9 Questions the Team Must Answer this Year

By Nadia Archuleta

DENVER, CO - APRIL 07: Patrik Nemeth #12, Mikko Rantanen #96, Tyson Jost #17 and J.T. Compher #37 of the Colorado Avalanche wave to the crowd after a win against the St. Louis Blues at the Pepsi Center on April, 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Blues 5-2. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 07: Patrik Nemeth #12, Mikko Rantanen #96, Tyson Jost #17 and J.T. Compher #37 of the Colorado Avalanche wave to the crowd after a win against the St. Louis Blues at the Pepsi Center on April, 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Blues 5-2. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 20: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Mark Barberio (44) stretches prior to Game Five of Round One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators, held on April 20, 2018, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5. Which Journeymen will Step Up?

That brings us to our next question — which journeymen will make an impact on the team this season?

The core of the Colorado Avalanche is obvious:

  • Nathan MacKinnon
  • Gabriel Landeskog
  • Mikko Rantanen
  • Tyson Jost
  • Erik Johnson
  • Tyson Barrie
  • Sam Girard

Plus, of course, the two goalies — Semyon Varlamov and Philipp Grubauer.

The immediate ancillary players are JT Compher, Alexander Kerfoot, Sven Andrighetto and Nikita Zadorov (who maybe should be in the core group).

That’s only 13 players, though, just over half the team. The rest of the team will be comprised of journeymen and role players.

I feel pretty good that the third line of Soderberg, Nieto and Calvert will be solid again, if not quite as fruitful as last season. The hope is there that Wilson will live up to expectations.

Gabriel Bourque was one of the Avs’ best journeymen last season. He’s a tenaciously hard worker. If he keeps that up, he can make an impact on the team.

Defensively, we’ve got to see what we’ve got to see what Ian Cole has to offer. Mark Barberio, Anton Lindholm and Patrik Nemeth are also looking to earn spots. Of the three, I think Barberio has the best chance of being an impact player.

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