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Colorado Avalanche: 3 Reasons They Are Stanley Cup Contenders

By Adrienne Tyler |
DENVER, CO - APRIL 17: Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche jumps on the pile after a game winning goal against the Calgary Flames by teammate Mikko Rantanen #96 in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 17, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Flames 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 17: Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche jumps on the pile after a game winning goal against the Calgary Flames by teammate Mikko Rantanen #96 in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 17, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Flames 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

As the season approaches, new hopes for a deep playoff run begin to blossom in our Colorado Avalanche loving hearts. But here’s the trick: we have reasons to believe.

Can you feel that? It’s the NHL’s regular season fast approaching, and with it the hopes of every hockey fan that their team will make it to the Stanley Cup playoffs and, hopefully, to the final. Colorado Avalanche fans’ faith has fluctuated a bit in the last couple of years (understandable), but these last two seasons have restored the faith of many fans who really, really want to see the Avs holding the Cup.

What makes being an Avs fan so exciting is that we have very good reasons to believe that the team will make it to the playoffs and beyond. And for those newly arrived fans (welcome!) and those who are still fighting against that horrible “but what if…”, here are three reasons why the Colorado Avalanche are Stanley Cup contenders.

The Masters And The Padawans

MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 12: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) looks on during the warmup of the NHL game between the Colorado Avalanches and the Montreal Canadiens on January 12, 2019, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 12: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) looks on during the warmup of the NHL game between the Colorado Avalanches and the Montreal Canadiens on January 12, 2019, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Colorado Avalanche have a great balance of young players and veterans. Players like Sam Girard, Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, Tyson Jost, and Ryan Graves have figures like Erik Johnson, Pierre-Édouard Bellemare, Matt Calvert, and Ian Cole to guide them through the madness (and fun) of the NHL.

There are also those in between that are not younglings anymore but haven’t reached the veteran status just yet. Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin, and the captain Gabriel Landeskog are some of those in-between players that also serve as guides for the young ones while also being a boost and support to the veterans.

Look At That Defense

DENVER, COLORADO – MAY 06: Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche skates the puck away from Barclay Goodrow #23 of the San Jose Sharks in the second period during Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on May 6, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – MAY 06: Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche skates the puck away from Barclay Goodrow #23 of the San Jose Sharks in the second period during Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on May 6, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

You probably saw it after the draft and then during free agency madness: everyone was talking about how the Colorado Avalanche’s defense is becoming dangerous. With Bowen Byram on our side, Cale Makar ready for his first full season, and Kevin Connauton joining the fun, the Avs are on track to become a menace – a bigger one than Nikita Zadorov alone, of course.

They Want It. They Really Do

DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 19: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens at the Pepsi Center on December 19, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 19: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens at the Pepsi Center on December 19, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Sure, “every team wants the Cup”, but there are two teams that I feel want it really, really bad: the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs have proven to be ready for a deep playoff run, and know exactly what to do in case of emergency, or in other words, when a key player is out for days for whatever reason.

The Avs have already survived without their goalie, their captain, EJ, and MacKinnon, and they can do it again (but hopefully everyone will stay healthy all season long and then during post-season). They have also proven that they can beat the Conference leaders and give the best team of the league a battle for their money. They know they can, they know they have what it takes and more to get to the Stanley Cup final – now we just wait and enjoy the ride.

Next. Avalanche: Options For The 2nd Defensive Pairing. dark

The Colorado Avalanche’s preseason will begin on September 17 against the Vegas Golden Knights, and regular season will begin against the Calgary Flames on October 3.

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