Colorado Avalanche: 5 Players Who Must Have Great Playoffs

DENVER, CO - APRIL 17: Members of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate with teammate Mikko Rantanen #96 after his game winning goal against the Calgary Flames 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: Members of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate with teammate Mikko Rantanen #96 after his game winning goal against the Calgary Flames 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)
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colorado avalanche
DENVER, COLORADO – MAY 06: Members of the Colorado Avalanche swarm Gabriel Landeskog #92 after he scored the winning goal against the San Jose Sharks in overtime 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)

The Colorado Avalanche may very well get a chance at the playoffs this season. These five players need to make the most of it.

The Colorado Avalanche and entire NHL are just about to enter Phase 2, which is the first step in the NHL’s return to play. Whether you think they should return or not, they’re making plans to do just that.

Phase 2 is an easing in period which sees players able to return to team facilities for small-group, informal practices. They don’t even have to return to their own team’s facilities yet. Read more here.

Meanwhile, only 24 teams are returning to play — or an unwieldy 24 teams, depending on how you choose to look at the situation. The 16 bubble teams will have a play-in round to make the playoffs. The top four teams in each conference will play games for seeding. Read more here.

The Colorado Avalanche are second in the Western Conference, so they will make the playoffs regardless. If the NHL season returns, we will see more Avs hockey.

So, since it looks pretty good that that may, indeed, happen, let’s look at some players who have to be great in the playoffs for a variety of reasons.