3 Colorado Avalanche players who seriously need to step up their games in November

With just 12 points this season, the Colorado Avalanche have more than underperformed so far, but it doesn’t mean the 2024-25 campaign is a throwaway year. For one, they’re getting help with Valeri Nichuskin returning, so that will serve as a massive boost. 

But, they need more than just one of their best players making their on-ice debut this season to fully turn their fortunes around. A few players who we thought would be forces for the Avs haven’t been, and we’re going to discuss who those players are below, starting with the most obvious name on the team. 

Alexandar Georgiev

Sooner rather than later, we’re going to see Alexandar Georgiev suit up for the Avs, and he’ll once again find himself between the pipes. But still, we all, even those who don’t follow the Avalanche, know that Georgiev has got to start faring better when his number is called. 

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about the maligned Georgiev, and considering how much better the Avalanche would be if he got his act together, he may be the most pivotal name on this list. 

As of November 6th, his quality starts percentage remains at zero, with a 4.62 GAA and an 0.822 save percentage. Yeah, those numbers aren’t going to cut it if the Avs want to dig their way out of this mess they’re still in.  

Casey Mittelstadt

Surprised? Hey, on paper, Casey Mittelstadt is having one heck of a year, with 15 points and six goals, good for an 18.2 shooting percentage. He’s becoming an impact player offensively on the Avalanche, and he could be calling Denver his home for quite the foreseeable future.

But Mittelstadt still can’t consistently win faceoffs, and his win percentage at the dot is a meager 42.6 so far. He’s also struggling with giveaways having coughed up the puck 15 times, something that has plagued him a few times throughout his career. 

Sure, it’s great to see Mittelstadt transforming into the formidable points-producer everyone in the NHL universe thought he’d be when he first entered the league in 2017-18. But he remains far from a complete player, even if he’s given Avs fans a lot to cheer for.

Logan O’Connor

With nearly two minutes more ice time so far this season than he had in 2023-24, I was expecting more from Logan O’Connor. No, he’s not an incredible points producer, nor is it likely he will be. But O’Connor did put up 13 goals last year with a 15.3 shooting percentage, which should have foreshadowed even more this season. 

Unfortunately, it hasn’t happened, and O’Connor has just one goal in 13 contests, good for just a 7.1 shooting percentage. That said, he is playing more physical hockey, with two body checks per game at the moment, plus a Corsi For at even strength of nearly 60 percent. 

So, there’s a lot to like about O’Connor, and if he can find even a remote rhythm offensively, he could evolve into a solid supplementary scorer as November continues.