The Colorado Avalanche will face a unique challenge not seen in the NHL for over three decades. The league will move to an 84-game schedule since the 1993-94 season.
And that situation looks to be a complex situation for pretty much every team in the league.
On the surface, it doesn’t seem like two additional games will make much of a difference this upcoming season. But it could make a major difference.
To compensate for the two extra games, the league will start the season in September for the first time. The first home openers are set to start on September 29. The Avalanche will open their season on September 30 against the LA Kings.
As such, those two extra games could pose an interesting challenge for the Avs. Even though the schedule won’t be as compressed as it has been the last couple of seasons, the Avalanche will need to rely on their depth to navigate the full schedule. Well, just about every team in the league will be looking to draw on their depth to ensure they get by the season without much of a hitch.
But there’s one specific area that all teams will be looking to deal with as efficiently as possible.
Avalanche will rely on goaltending depth to manage season
The Avalanche, like just about every team in the NHL, will be looking for goaltending depth. Very few goalies can start upwards of 60 games this season. Unfortunately, injuries also play a significant role. And the Avalanche are no exception. While the tandem of Scott Wedgewood and MacKenzie Blackwood has been reliable, there will invariably be the need for more depth, just in case.
The hope is that injuries won’t become an issue. But if they do, the Avs will need to draw from the AHL to ensure the wheels keep turning. Trent Miner figures to be the first man up if needed. That’s three NHL-caliber goalies the Avalanche will draw from to ensure they’re well-suited to deal with any eventuality.
Ultimately, this season will be an experiment of sorts for the NHL. The 84-game experiment shouldn’t prove disastrous for clubs. But there is no question that depth will become a consideration, especially as the season moves into the second half.
Let’s see just how much those two extra games become an issue for teams across the league. In the meantime, it seems that the Avalanche have positioned themselves to handle whatever comes their way.
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