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Colorado Avalanche Decade in Review: 20 Memorable Moments

ByNadia Archuleta|
DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 30: Joonas Donskoi #72 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal against the Florida Panthers with his bench at the Pepsi Center on October 30, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Panthers defeated the Avalanche 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 30: Joonas Donskoi #72 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal against the Florida Panthers with his bench at the Pepsi Center on October 30, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Panthers defeated the Avalanche 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 29: The balls for the fist overall pick are selected during the NHL Draft Lottery at the CBC Studios in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on April 29, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)

16. Memorable Moment: Colorado Avalanche Lose the Draft Lottery

So, after the worst season in the salary cap era, you’d think you get to at least pick first in the following draft. Yeah, no, not when you’re the Colorado Avalanche.

The Avalanche saw three teams with much better records take the first three spots in the draft order. They dropped as low as they could go — #4.

Yes, in the end we were well-compensated for that pick, choosing defenseman Cale Makar. And, to be honest, I wouldn’t trade him for any of the three players who went 1-3. I honestly believe he’s better and will have a bigger impact on the team long-term.

But we didn’t know that at the time. We just knew the pain of the 48-point season was capped with the ignominious fall to the fourth draft position.

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