How Colorado Avalanche can avoid the aging hometown superstar dilemma in 6-8 Years

The Pittsburgh Penguins came to Denver to play the Colorado Avalanche on March 4, 2025, and the game played out anecdotally, as the Avs beat the Pens 4-1, encapsulating the trajectory of the respective franchises. The Penguins are the oldest team in the league, and they've fully hitched themselves to the three players who have been cornerstones for the keystone state's most successful hockey team. Sidney Crosby (37) is a long past his moniker of "Sid the Kid," and his perennial teammates, Kris Letang (37) and Evgeni Malkin (38) were once the hopeful youths destined to bring Pittsburgh back into contention, but, despite their continued strong play, time remains undefeated, and their time in the NHL is coming to a close. This idea of building around --- and committing to --- home-grown talent is one that should be familiar to Avs fans. But seeing what the Penguins have become this season should serve as a lesson.

After three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017) and 19 seasons played together (a record across all North American sports history), it's impossible to say that the formula didn't work or that these three Penguins legends aren't all destined for the Hall of Fame. In 2025, however, it's also impossible to deny that their time has come and gone, even if GM Kyle Dubas might not agree. The Penguins refuse to commit to a rebuild and remain committed to their stars, instead of trading them to a contender to build up prospects and draft capital; accordingly, that trio will almsot certainly retire together and as Penguins. But what is the long-term damage of this particular brand of nostalgia?

"Rebuilding" is a word that makes front offices shudder, so much so that the term "re-tooling" is generally utilized in its place. No team wants to admit that their heyday is over or their window is closing, but mediocrity comes for all sooner or later. It will, unfortunately, also come for the Avs. But it doesn't have to be a full-on rebuild if things are handled correctly and emotions are checked. Once superstar players get their big contract and it has run its course, the player is generally in their mid-30s. A team's front office must then make a difficult decision: Do they honor the player's efforts and legacy and extend them, possibly dooming the franchise to mediocrity for the sake of nostalgia? Or do they risk the ire of the media, fans, and other players by trading someone away who's given their life to the team? There's no easy answer, and there's no way to please everyone.

It's difficult to predict what the Avs will look like in a few years, let alone in six to eight or more, especially at the current pace at which the Avs are making roster changes and trades. But no matter which players the Avs employ, there are a few names upon which the Avs will rely for the foreseeable future: Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, Devon Toews, Valeri Nichuskin, Mackenzie Blackwood, and Gabriel Landeskog (sort of).

*Landeskog has been on LTIR since June 26, 2022

Unlike with the Penguins, half of these players are not "home-grown," but they are locked up as part of Colorado's long-term goals. Cale Makar's current deal, a laughably inexpensive $9mil AAV contract, is the first of his fellow superstars to run out, completing at the end of the 2027-27 season; Makar is due for a raise, and he'll almost certainly get one. Although, in light of the Mikko Rantanen trade fallout, nothing is a guarantee. As these contracts get closer and closer to completion, the Avalanche will likely find themself in the same position as the Pittsburgh Penguins were a few years ago: What do we do with these players as they exit the prime years of their respective careers?

One recent example of a team heading in the opposite direction of the Pittsburgh Penguins is the Boston Bruins and their recent trade of Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers. It came as a shock to many, including Marchand, himself. But the Bruins proactively recognized that that era of their franchise existed only in the rearview mirror, and it was time to begin the dreaded re-tooling process. But they have also set themselves up with cap space, prospects, and draft picks (by also shipping Brandon Carlo to Toronto, Trent Frederic and Max Jones to Edmonton, Justin Brazeau to Minnesota, and Charlie Coyle to Colorado), which is the smartest thing for them to do at this time.

For the Colorado Avalanche, the short answer is that it will come down to each player on a case-by-case basis, especially given the age variance between the players on the Avs and the differing years in which their respective contracts are up. But the best decision GM Chris MacFarland, Joe Sakic, and the rest of the front office can do is to not let feelings affect what, ultimately, must be a series of business decisions. Their trade of Mikko Rantanen (and the slew of other in-season trades made this season) illustrate how best to handle building a team around star-caliber players and show that they can make dispassionate decisions for the benefit of the team. When those star players begin to enter the twilights of their careers, though, it will prove to be another hurdle that will make or break the next generation of Colorado Avalanche hockey.

Plus, they could always bring someone back for a farewell tour, a la Erik Johnson.

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