Looking at where the Colorado Avalanche will finish in 2024-25
The Colorado Avalanche are poised for a strong 2024-25 season. While disaster lurks in the shadows, there is plenty of reason for optimism this upcoming season. The return of spiritual leader Gabe Landeskog could be just the boost the Avs need to make a return to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Colorado Avalanche are coming off a largely successful season in 2023-24. While the club had a disappointing second-round playoff exit, there were plenty of positives to consider.
First, Nathan MacKinnon’s unreal season set the tone for the entire team. Cale Makar earned another Norris Trophy nomination. The club as a whole came together at key moments, leading to a 107-point season.
That point total was good enough for third in a tough Central Division, where the Dallas Stars and the Winnipeg Jets captured the top two spots.
So, with various positives to build on from last season, the Colorado Avalanche will look to have another great year. But the question remains: Where will the Colorado Avalanche finish in 2024-25?
Let’s take a deep dive into this question by focusing on the three potential outcomes.
Looking at Where the Colorado Avalanche Will Finish This Upcoming Season
The Best-Case Scenario
The best-scenario is the Avs go on a run to open the season, propelling them to the top of the Central Division. With everything going their way, the Avalanche could be the class of the Western Conference, potentially looking to capture the Presidents’ Trophy.
Now, the best-case scenario hinges on Alexandar Georgiev having a stellar season. We can assume that MacKinnon and Makar will continue their unreal performances. Meanwhile, Mikko Rantanen should have another 90-plus-point season, potentially eclipsing the 100-point mark for the third year in a row.
Then, other key players like Casey Middlestadt, Artturi Lekhonen, and Jonathan Drouin end up producing beyond their career highs, giving the Avs the supplementary scoring needed to easily win games.
As for the defense, Makar and Devon Toews continue playing like one of the top pairings in the league. As for Sam Girard and Josh Manson, the Avs find a shutdown pair to play with the best in the NHL.
Lastly, the bottom pairing, regardless of who ultimately plays there, works out well enough to keep the Avs from losing games due to silly mistakes.
Under this scenario, the Colorado Avalanche hit on all cylinders. Everything goes right, including major injuries staying at bay. Moreover, division rivals have slight regressions, allowing the Avs to take full control of the division.
In the playoffs, the Avs make it all the way to the Conference Final, potentially locking horns with the Edmonton Oilers for a ticket to the Cup Final.
If this entire situation plays out, Avs fans could be cheering for the club’s first cup since 2022. All the pieces are there, especially if Gabe Landeskog returns as a spiritual force, possibly winning the Masterton Trophy in the process.
The Worst-Case Scenario
In this scenario, I don’t envision the Avs missing the playoffs. While that’s always a possibility, the wheels would have to completely fall off the wagon in order for that to happen.
So, the worst-case scenario would be the Avalanche falling into a wildcard spot, essentially fighting off teams like the St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, and Minnesota Wild for wildcard spots.
This scenario would also include major regressions for MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Makar. In particular, MacKinnon’s numbers would fall back down to Earth. While he could still top 100 points, his overall totals would not be close to last year’s mind-blogging stats.
Additionally, goaltending would become the Avs’ Achilles heel. Georgiev would fail to live up to expectations as the number-one goalie, forcing the Avalanche to look for a suitable replacement via trade. Doing so could end up costing far more than the club would like to pay.
Moreover, the Avs would face injury issues. For instance, a devastating injury to MacKinnon or Makar could derail the entire season. Even heart-and-soul leader Landeskog could end up proving he’s done for good.
Then, there’s secondary scoring to worry about. For example, Middlestadt crashes to the ground, while Drouin looks more like his old Montreal self. The bottom six doesn’t chip in, leaving the top line to shoulder the offensive burden.
Lastly, even with the Avs making the playoffs, they would most likely get bounced in the first round. As a wildcard team, they would most likely face the Stars or Edmonton Oilers in the first round. That prospect could mean a quick playoff exit.
Personally, I feel this scenario is highly unlikely, but certainly plausible. It’s worth noting that Murphy’s Law is a real thing. Stranger things have happened in NHL history. So, fans shouldn’t discount this scenario from potentially playing out.
The Likeliest Scenario
The likeliest outcome for this upcoming season is the Avs challenging the Stars for the division lead. Ultimately, the Colorado Avalanche would end up second or third, meeting the Jets once again in the first round.
However, the much-improved Predators could leapfrog the Jets, bouncing Winnipeg to a wildcard spot. In that case, the Avs could square off against the Preds in one of the best first-round matchups.
As for individual performances, MacKinnon and Rantanen top 100 points again. Landeskog plays most of the season, while Makar is a Norris finalist again.
The defense plays solidly, making life for Georgiev easier. That situation allows Georgiev to make the saves he needs to make, building his confidence as the season moves along.
The Avalanche should top 100 points for the season, easily reaching 50 wins. Without major injury concerns, the team’s depth won’t be as concerning as it could be otherwise.
However, there is one cause for concern: Backup goaltending. As it stands, Justus Annunen figures to be the backup. Given Annunen’s lack of experience, the Avs may need to go out and get a veteran to provide insurance. Someone like a Martin Jones come to mind.
The likeliest outcome would resemble very much last year’s campaign. The biggest change, however, could come in the playoffs. The Avs may be on an inevitable collision course with the Dallas Stars in the second round.
This time around, the Avs could get the upper hand on the Stars, getting past them in a tough six or seven game series. While the Avalanche may not jump to the top of most analysts’ lists of Cup contenders, by Christmas, we should get a clear picture of just how good this Avs team really is.
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