The Colorado Avalanche got a salvo from the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. The Hawks extended budding star Frank Nazar on a seven-year, $46 million deal.
At face value, the contract is a win for Blackhawks fans. The deal locks up a rising star for the foreseeable future.
But for Avalanche fans, it’s a warning shot. It signals the Blackhawks are gearing up to compete in the Central Division. It’s a way of putting the entire Western Conference on notice that the Blackhawks intend to compete in the near future.
Now, does that mean the Blackhawks will become a playoff team this upcoming season? Hardly. If anything, Chicago is destined for another bottom-three finish. Given the talent in next year’s draft, that’s where they want to be.
But beyond the 2026 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks know their fanbase can’t wait much longer. The time has come to get the team to the next level. That could happen sooner than expected. If Connor Bedard, Nazar, and other rising stars continue their development, the Avalanche, among other Central Division clubs, could find another competitor nipping at their heels.
Unfortunately, the only thing the Avalanche can do is get better. The team cannot afford to sit around thinking the rest of the Western Conference will sit on their hands. Yes, the Blackhawks will not be a playoff contender this season. But before anyone knows it, the group of young players could become a force to be reckoned with.
Avalanche face challenging decisions with own rospects
The Colorado Avalanche don’t have an overflowing pipeline of blue-chip prospects. Most of the prospects in the Avs’ system have a decent chance of becoming regular NHLers. But none really stand out as potential stars.
Well, you could say that already happened with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. But Father Time keeps moving, and the Avalanche need to figure out what to do with their current prospect group.
Ivan Ivan and Tye Falhaber look like players who could get a real shot at making the team. They’ll face a tough time now that the Avalanche have Danil Gushchin and Victor Olofsson on the club. Neither Olofsson nor Gushchin is a sure thing. But their presence adds to the internal competition.
The biggest issue lies with Nikita Prishchepov. He’s good enough to earn a shot at a full-time job in the Avs’ bottom-six forward group. He could be a decent 13th forward, but he needs playing time. The club has time to sort out his situation since he’s still under contract for two more seasons.
On the blue line, Sean Behrens should get a long look in camp. He missed all of last season due to a knee injury. But here’s hoping he can bounce back and take over the role as the Avalanche’s top defensive prospect. Fans should keep an eye on Hank Kempf and Francesco Dell’Elce. They could be in camp and could have something to say about pushing other players in the system.
But as these prospects hopefully mature, the team will need to decide if it can move on from veteran players or hold on to its veteran core a bit longer. This season could determine what direction the Avalanche head in the next five years or so.