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Predicting the Colorado Avalanche opening night roster

By Sean McKenna

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 28: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on against the Seattle Kraken during the second period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Climate Pledge Arena on April 28, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 28: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on against the Seattle Kraken during the second period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Climate Pledge Arena on April 28, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, COLORADO – APRIL 11: Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on in the second period of a game against the Edmonton Oilers at Ball Arena on April 11, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – APRIL 11: Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on in the second period of a game against the Edmonton Oilers at Ball Arena on April 11, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Colorado Avalanche forwards prediction

There are a couple of cornerstones of this franchise. These same players played a pivotal role in the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup not long ago. The Avalanche go as Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog go, as far as the forward group is concerned. Landeskog looks like he will miss the entire season, which will hurt (no pun intended), but MacKinnon and Rantanen are a force to be reckoned with league-wide, and obviously will make this team.

The Avalanche added a few players this off-season, and although their impact on the team is yet to be determined, they surely will have an opportunity to provide that impact. Ross Colton, Ryan Johansen, Jonathan Drouin, and Tomas Tatar are these players, and they’ll have a roster spot on opening night. Colorado just signed Miles Wood to a six-year contract this off-season, and he’ll bring some grit to the Avalanche lineup in 2023.

Playoff hero Valeri Nichushkin is comfortably on this roster as well. Artturi Lehkonen provided more than twenty goals last season for the Avalanche, and he’ll provide depth this season.

Here’s where the decisions will start to happen. Most of the aforementioned players will make up the top 9 of the Avalanche, at least to begin the season. The last 3-4 spots are up for grabs with many worthy candidates. Andrew Cogliano will make this team. He’s a seasoned veteran with a ton of experience, can easily play a grinding-type game required of a fourth liner, and can chip in offensively when necessary.

Riley Tufte has been spoken highly of by Avalanche brass this training camp and recently saw some time at Center when MacKinnon was up in Halifax. Tufte also happens to stand 6-foot-6 and weigh about 220 lbs. He’s young (25) and was signed this off-season from Dallas where he saw game action at the NHL level last season. His versatility and size help him make this opening night roster.

Logan O’Connor has done enough over the last two seasons for the Avalanche to have earned a chance to be on the roster on opening night. He’s only missed one game over the last two seasons and has scored over 20 points each season.

The final forward spot goes to Kurtis MacDermid. Avalanche fans know and love MacDermid as he can provide a rugged style of play and is not shy about protecting his teammates when required. Although they likely do not want this to happen, MacDermid can also play defense and can add versatility to the squad.

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