Colorado Avalanche fans got a taste of success in the recent past, hoisting the biggest prize in all of sports – the Stanley Cup – in 2022. The team hasn’t been able to reach those heights since, much to the chagrin of the fanbase.
As the summer is the time of wishful thinking, pundits across the X-verse have been clamoring about the potential this roster may, or may not, have for the 2025-26 season.
One such post caught the eye of Altitude TV Avalanche studio analyst Kyle Keefe, who said the team’s ceiling is that same Stanley Cup fans have been appealing for – with one caveat – that the team remain healthy.
“Un-think”. They’re good on both ends. It’s all about staying healthy. This team. This roster, can win the Stanley Cup. Stay healthy. That’s it. https://t.co/cE4WR7BJia
— Kyle Keefe 🎤 (@kylekeefetv) August 18, 2025
Keefe has a point. The team, when healthy, has many weapons at every level of the roster, and if everything clicks, there is no cap on how far it can go.
The Avalanche possess the best core of defensemen in the league. Led by now two-time Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar, scorer of 30 goals last season, the team boasts depth one through six, puck moving ability, defensive zone prowess, and a physical aspect suitable for playoff hockey.
Devon Toews is one of the best shutdown defenders in the league. The team signed free agent Brent Bruns from Carolina this summer, and he’ll shore up the third pairing. Josh Manson was re-signed by the team and will provide a physical presence as well as chipping in with the occasional goal. Sam Malinski will be expected to take the next step in his development this season as well.
The top six of the Avalanche compare to the league’s best, led by superstar Nathan MacKinnon. Mack was once again in MVP contention this past season and now gets another season to continue to mesh with Martin Necas, who was acquired midseason from Carolina.
Brock Nelson was also acquired at the trade deadline last season and Colorado wisely re-signed him to add depth to the top six unit. Nelson had 13 points in 19 games wearing the burgundy and blue sweater last season and may be the answer at the second center role the team has been looking for.
The team hopes Ross Colton stays healthy this season, and considering the rest of the top six includes players like Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lekhonen, the top-end ability is highly regarded league wide.
On the back end, the team has found their goaltending tandem to take them to the next level. Both acquired last season, the “woodshed,” as I’ll call them, consists of starter Mackenzie Blackwood and backup Scott Wedgewood. Blackwood was excellent as a member of the team, amassing a 2.33 goals-against average in 37 games for Colorado during the regular season.
As Keefe believes, the team does have the pieces to make a deep run if healthy. It’d be negligent not to mention the possible pitfalls of a lack of depth (as currently constructed) among the bottom six forwards and a difficult conference, however.
The team will likely rely on several younger forwards to make an impact in the bottom six this upcoming season, with Logan O’Connor out for the start of the season. The team made a crucial move recently, re-signing Joel Kiviranta to a team-friendly contract, which will help.
They’ll need players like Ivan Ivan, among others, to play well across the course of the season.
The Western Conference is a difficult conference to advance out of as well. With teams like Winnipeg, Dallas, Edmonton and more, the Avalanche have a who’s who of teams to defeat throughout the playoffs before they even get an opportunity to play for the chalice.
Prior to making the playoffs, the Central Division is a gauntlet that any team will be lucky to get through without injury. Winnipeg won the President’s Trophy last season. Dallas lost in the Stanley Cup finals. Minnesota and St. Louis both made the playoffs as wildcards.
The division is loaded. Chicago has Connor Bedard, Nashville is a difficult team to play against, and Utah plays hard as well. The Avalanche will be lucky to get through this schedule, period, let alone without significant injury.
Keefe certainly makes a bold claim, but there’s also plenty of merit to his words. If all goes well in Avalanche land, the opportunities for success for the team are endless. If just one thing goes wrong, especially to a player the team counts on, getting to the top of that mountain will be a monumental hill to climb.