The Colorado Avalanche finished the 2025-26 regular season as the best team in the NHL. With the best record in the league, they won the Presidents’ trophy, and they also have several players who already won awards (I say “already” because some awards don’t get announced for a while yet).
The Avalanche couldn’t have had this good of a season if it weren’t for some key contributors. Some were expected, while some were not. The team went on several long winning streaks this season, and had very few long losing streaks. As a result, they’ve gone through the very-highs and lows of the year, like every team does. However, when they went through the low points, it was hardly a worry at all.
As they head into the first round of the postseason, against the Los Angeles Kings, they have a lot of pressure on themselves. It’s truly, as they say, “Cup or bust.” While winning the Presidents’ trophy comes with the speculation of the dreaded curse, the Avs have a shot at putting those thoughts to rest, and I truly think they can do it.
They’ve gotten this far due to some highly-skilled players, so let’s discuss the top three of the season.
3. Martin Necas
Martin Necas has been a pleasant addition to the Colorado Avalanche. No, I’m not going to go as far as saying he is a “pleasant surprise” because I don’t think that you trade away Mikko Rantanen expecting one of the return pieces to not play top minutes. Some also believe the Avs won this trade.
Since joining the Avalanche, Necas has played in 108 games, recording 49 goals and 79 assists. He blew his previous career-high point total of 79 out of the water this season by recording his first 100-point season of his career, which began in 2017 as the 12th overall pick Of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Though the unit had its major struggles this season, the power play saw Necas score nine goals and 15 assists this season. That goal total was third on the team, with Nathan MacKinnon (11) and Brock Nelson (10) ahead.
The one knock that Necas has on him is the lack of playoff production throughout his career. He has just 12 goals and 23 assists in 66 playoff games, including one goal and four assists in seven games for the Avalanche last playoff push. While I don’t think Colorado will have an issue taking care of the LA Kings, I’d love to see Necas step up in this first series.
Necas’ contract runs out this offseason, and there’s no way that I see the Avalanche letting him walk in free agency.
2. Scott Wedgewood
The Avalanche have had several success stories this season—one being goaltender Scott Wedgewood.
Though you can point to last season as Wedgewood’s initial success story, he’s taken on a whole lot more in 2025-26.
Wedgewood began the year as the team’s starting goalie due to Mackenzie Blackwood recovering from offseason surgery, and he didn’t slow down very often. While there were some tough games, for the most part, Wedgewood stayed strong and often bailed the team out of games in which they were unable to get much offense going, or at least unable to solve the opposing goaltender. He had a record of 31-6-0-6 this season, and along with Blackwood, earned the team the Jennings award.
While it seems as if head coach Jared Bednar is planning on starting Wedgewood in the postseason, this will be another tough task. He has appeared in just four playoff games over his career, three of which came in one year—in 2022-23 with the Dallas Stars. I don’t think his lack of experience will be an issue given what he’s done for the team this year. He can prove that naming him an X-Factor for the playoffs was a smart move.
1. Nathan MacKinnon
Well, you knew this was coming, I’m sure. MacKinnon has had yet another superb season. While Connor McDavid might win the Hart trophy over him, MacKinnon’s efforts are by no means underwhelming.
He played in 80 games and recorded his fourth-straight 100-point season with 53 goals and 74 assists. He took command of the team with 14 multi-goal games and 39 multi-point games. His efforts led to him earning the Rocket Richard trophy, given to the league’s leading scorer each season.
His team took control of the league this season and MacKinnon was one of the biggest parts of it.
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