The Colorado Avalanche start the 2025-26 season as Stanley Cup contenders. In my previous article, I discussed three keys for the team as a whole on their quest for the NHL’s ultimate prize. This time around, I'm discussing key points for the top six-forwards. We're looking at what each of these players can do to ensure the team wins games and has the best chance to win the cup.
In the team article, one of the keys was to stay healthy, so I'm going to avoid using that here for the players. However, I do believe the biggest key for both Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin is to keep themselves on the ice.
Valeri Nichushkin
Nichushkin's Key: 20 power-play goals and/or a 70+ point season
Big Val is an interesting case, and him having his absolute best season might be the most important thing for this club this year. The team has to replace Mikko Rantanen's goal production and Nichushkin should be doing much of the heavy lifting. When Nichushkin is firing on all cylinders, he really makes the top-six click, no matter who he's skating with.
We've seen Nichushkin's effectiveness as the man down low on the power-play, and while 20 goals is a lofty expectation, he is one of the few in the league who could actually do it. With good health and the team around him, Nichushkin needs to be a force on the man-advantage.
Martin Necas
Necas's Key: Blossom into whoever he's supposed to be
Martin Necas has never really been able to flourish in the NHL. The Carolina Hurricanes’ system is defensive-minded and he didn't really seem to fit in Carolina. While we all want to see the Necas-MacKinnon connection, I think Necas finding his own, outside of MacKinnon's shadow, is what he needs the most. One of my knocks on Rantanen was that he failed to consistently drive the second line when given the opportunity. I'd be surprised if Necas could be that guy, but it would be a huge help for this team to actually get scoring from the second line.
What does this mean statistically? I'd like to see him push past the 90-point mark for the first time in his career. It shouldn't be too much to ask as he had 83 this past season, with only 28 of those points coming 30 games in Colorado. Necas has a great skill set that fits the Avalanche system. Whether he finds a home on the top line with MacKinnon or the second line, Necas has to be contribute at a high level.
Brock Nelson
Nelson's Key: 30 goals and +50% on faceoffs
Again, just like Nichushkin, the Avs need to find some of Rantanen's goal production. Nelson can be another one of those guys. He has multiple 30-goal seasons in his career and that's playing for an Islanders team that hasn't scored above three goals per game since the 2017-18 season. In the Avalanche system, Nelson should be able to light the lamp often.
Faceoffs are always regarded as one of the most important factors in the playoffs but that never seems to matter to the Avs coaching staff. During their Stanley Cup run, the Avalanche were a paltry 47.8% in the dot. Nelson is just under the 50% mark for his career, but he was generally the top face-off man as an Isle. He'll get better matchups on the draw. If MacKinnon can continue on his upward trajectory, this Avalanche team could have a solid season in the faceoff circle.
Gabriel Landeskog
Landeskog's Key: Be O'Captain, My Captain
Gabriel Landeskog's return to the team is so much more than the stats he puts up. We all know this. Of course, we want him to produce, but the value he brings to this team that has been severely lacking in the leadership department in his absence is one of the absolute most important things for Colorado.
Perhaps the most important part of the return of Landeskog's leadership is removing that burden from Nathan MacKinnon, and even Cale Makar. Without his leadership, MacKinnon and Makar couldn't focus on going out on the ice and doing what they do best. The other leadership guys on the team like Devon Toews and Logan O'Connor are great, but don't provide what Landeskog does. Landeskog is the heart and soul of this team and it's huge for him to be back.
Artturi Lehkonen
Lehkonen's Key: Be the Swiss Army knife and in the right place at the right time
Artturi Lehkonen continues to earn the nickname of Good-Stick Lehky as he always seems to be in the right place, at the right time. I want him to continue to be that guy and even expand on it. Last year, he had a career-high in goals and, should he stay healthy, he should continue to build on that. Another 20-goal season and 50+ points should be what Lehkonen strives for, but he could provide even more if the team stays healthy and the chemistry clicks early.
Even if Lehkonen doesn't have a strong season, he needs to turn on the magic in the playoffs. His playoff heroics are needed on this club. I feel like the spark he can give this team with his timely goals can help push them past tough opponents in the playoffs.
Nathan MacKinnon
MacKinnon's Key: Win the Art Ross
To be honest, I don't care if MacKinnon wins the Art Ross trophy. It's just something he hasn't done yet. Really, what more can we ask this guy to do? He's one of the best players on the planet and can single-handedly take over and win games. Do we really need to ask more of him? Actually, let me try this again...
MacKinnon's Key: Have fun
When Nathan MacKinnon is on the ice and smiling and looking like he's having fun, he looks free. Playing with Jonathan Drouin the past couple seasons (especially the first year), brought out a different side to him during the regular season. When the team was on it, MacKinnon soared and looked like he was having a blast.
I think the last few seasons have worn on MacKinnon some. Rantanen's departure, Landeskog's and Nichushkin's absences, and the locker room struggles with some of the players who've come and gone have probably taken a bit of a toll on him. With Landeskog around to absorb many of the leadership responsibilities, MacKinnon should be able to go out there and focus in on what he does best: dominate the opposition.