The Colorado Avalanche will head into another season of relative uncertainty. While the club has an enviable core, the supporting cast leaves some question marks in the air. Those question marks have only increased in the seasons since the Avs won the Stanley Cup in 2022.
But in 2025-26, things could be different. The Avalanche have a unique opportunity to capitalize on the apparent shortcomings of their division rivals.
That situation has prompted me to go out on a limb and state that the Colorado Avalanche have a legit shot at winning the Central Division this season. Allow me to elaborate.
Last season’s Central Division champion, the Winnipeg Jets, had the best regular season in franchise history. The club claimed the Presidents’ Trophy and made it to the second round of the playoffs.
That will be a tough act to follow this season. If the New York Rangers are any indication, the season following a Presidents’ Trophy could be a curse. While I’m not advocating for the Jets to miss the playoffs, they could regress. The loss of Nikolaj Ehlers could hold them back. But as long as the Jets have Connor Hellebuyck, they’ll be tough to beat.
Then, there is the Dallas Stars. The Stars are absolutely loaded. This team is among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup in some books. I can certainly see why. But all things being equal, there’s one variable the Stars have modified from one year to another: Their head coach. The debacle that resulted in the Stars’ playoff exit prompted the team to move on from Peter DeBoer.
The Stars could face some regression as well. That regression could last as long as they need to adjust to a new coach. From there, the Stars could find their rhythm and become the Western Conference’s toughest club.
So, considering the potential regression by the Stars and Jets, the Avalanche could ride a strong start to the season to the division lead. A solid, consistent season could mean the Avs cruise to the Central Division title.
But then again, plenty of things have to go right for the Avalanche.
Colorado Avalanche will face other serious contenders in Central Division
The Jets and Stars are not the only tough clubs the Colorado Avalanche will face in the Central Division. Two emerging teams, the St. Louis Blues and Utah Mammoth, could be the biggest challengers the Colorado Avalanche could face.
The Blues have a strong mix of veterans and youth. Led by Brayden Schenn, the Blues could make a dent in the Western Conference after squeaking into the playoffs last season.
The Mammoth were in the playoff mix for most of the season before fading down the stretch. The addition of JJ Peterka could be a factor that puts the Mammoth over the top. That could mean wrestling away one of the wild card spots in the Western Conference.
Of course, there’s the Minnesota Wild. The Wild made the playoffs last season. They’ll be in the mix for a wild card spot again this season. If things go right for the Wild, they could challenge for third or even second in the Central Division.
The only two clubs that remain doubtful in the Central as the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators. The Predators could have a bounce-back year. But the Blackhawks don’t look poised to make much headway. Still, anything can happen, and either team could have a better-than-expected season.
Overall, the Avalanche have a good shot at winning their division. Of course, plenty of things need to go right in order for Colorado to remain consistently at the top this season. But given how talented this club truly is, there’s no reason why the Avs can’t run away with the Central Division title.