It’s been an unusual season for the Colorado Avalanche, to say the least. The Avs have dealt with a bizarre number of injuries. Regardless, the Avs are firmly entrenched in a playoff spot at the quarter-mark of the season.
The 0-4 start to the year seems like a distant nightmare. The poor start was highlighted by early injuries, such as Jonathan Drouin going down in the season’s first game. Then, erratic goaltending put the Avs in a tight spot.
The injuries forced coach Jared Bednar to find creative ways to fill lineup spots, turning to Justus Annunen to become the de facto starting netminder, and even picking up players from the bargain bin such as John Ludvig and Kaapo Kahkonen.
All told, the Avs are fourth in the Central Division with 24 points. They are two points back of the Dallas Stars for third, and holders of the first wildcard spot, tied with the Edmonton Oilers.
At this point, there is much more cause for optimism. Reinforcements arrived in the way of Drouin, Artturi Lehkonen, and Valeri Nichushkin returning to the ice. Alexandar Georgiev has gotten his game back on track, with young players like Sam Malinski and Ivan Ivan making considerable headway.
But the season wouldn’t have been salvaged if it wasn’t for the heroic efforts of a trio of stars: Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar.
MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Makar the stars for the Colorado Avalanche
If anyone thought there was nothing Nathan MacKinnon could do to top last year’s Hart Trophy performance, they were wrong. MacKinnon currently leads the league in scoring with 35 points. Meanwhile Mikko Rantanen is tied for fourth with 32 points.
It’s worth pointing out that Rantanen should get Hart Trophy consideration if he keeps his performance up. In fact, he could even surpass MacKinnon even if he doesn’t win the Art Ross. It would be an interesting outcome if Rantanen could capture the Hart Trophy.
As for Cale Makar, he’s on track to win the Norris Trophy. Makar already has a Norris to his credit, while finishing as a finalist last year. This season, he’s on pace to capture his second Norris while leading the Avs’ blue line amid the rash of injuries.
Overall, the Avs look to be in a solid position heading into the second quarter of the season. The next six or seven weeks will determine where the Avs finish the season. If the club can solidify its hold on a playoff spot.
By Christmas, we’ll know if this Avalanche team is ready to contend for the Cup. Otherwise, uncertainty will hang over the team as the trade deadline approaches.