Colorado Avalanche: Are The St. Louis Blues The Newest Threat?

So, the St. Louis Blues are the new Stanley Cup champions. What does this mean for the Colorado Avalanche? Should we keep a close eye on the Blues?

Depending on your preference, evil was defeated on June 12 or evil won. Whatever the perspective, the St. Louis Blues are the current Stanley Cup Champions, and they are also one of the Colorado Avalanche’s division rivals.

That’s an outcome most hockey fans didn’t see coming, but after a very surprising first round of playoffs, we were prepared for almost anything. Lord Stanley’s Cup is shiny and great and everything, but does it actually mean that the team who (temporarily) owns it is the new threat to look out for?

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There are a number of factors that come into play here, such as roster changes and even a new coach, which happened to the previous champions, the Washington Capitals. The Blues recently signed head coach Craig Berube to a three-year contract, and they don’t have any big or indispensable names on the UFA list this year.

We’re pretty much getting the same St. Louis Blues we got in the 2018-2019 season – unless there’s some unexpected RFA drama and their star goaltender Jordan Binnington decides he wants to consider other offers.

Now, the Colorado Avalanche didn’t have the best outcome against the Blues this season. All four games were won by the Blues – but only one in regulation (a 0-3 loss for the Avs), with two in OT and one in shootout. The Avs also lost all regular season games against the Calgary Flames and who made it to the second round of the playoffs? Oh, that’s right, the Colorado Avalanche.

What I’m trying to say is: no team should be intimidated by the title of “Stanley Cup Champions”. I know there is such thing as back-to-back champs, but since 1990 that has only happened three times (let’s not go farther than that because Montreal went crazy in the ’50s and ’60s). A lot of things can happen in the offseason and the regular season, not to mention the surprises that come once the playoffs start.

The 2018 champions, the Washington Capitals, didn’t make it past the first round. The best team in the league, the Tampa Bay Lightning, were swept in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets, breaking brackets all over the world. The 2016 and 2017 champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, were also swept in the first round. And the Colorado Avalanche defeated Conference Champions the Calgary Flames in the first round.

So no. The Blues are not the new threat.

According to some stats, the Colorado Avalanche have some pretty nice odds to win the Cup next year, even more than the current champions. On top of the list are (of course) the Lightning – supposing they don’t choke again. The Avs have been building a solid team with young and skilled players, and with the addition of Bowen Byram, the rest of the league are now looking at the team as a potential defensive threat.

And please oh please, let it be that.

Next. Avalanche: Analysis of the 3 Picks in Rounds 5 to 7. dark

The Colorado Avalanche (and all of us) are currently preparing for free agency madness – let’s see what July 1 brings and takes away not only for the Avs but for the rest of the teams as well.

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