Mount Rushmore of the Colorado Avalanche: Left Wing

3.) Alex Tanguay

Alex Tanguay is the next Av on Mt Rushmore. He played nine years across two separate stints in Colorado and played 598 games in total with the burgundy and blue, good for 13th on the Avalanche all-time games played list.

A consistent offensive threat, Tanguay scored 48 or more points in every full season he played in Colorado, with highs of 29 goals, 54 assists, and 79 points, although not all accrued in the same season.

Tanguay was also part of the 2000-01 Stanley Cup winning team. During the regular season, Tanguay had 27 goals and 50 assists for 77 total points. He kept that hot hand going during the playoffs, as he scored 21 points in 23 games, with six goals and 15 assists. Without him, the Avalanche likely don’t win the Stanley Cup that season. Tanguay played 83 playoff games in total with Colorado, far more than with any other team. He totaled 50 points during that time.

Tanguay always had a keen eye for putting the puck in the back of the net and he led the NHL in shot percentage twice during his years in Colorado. He averaged 19.4% over his Avalanche career.

Tanguay bounced around a bit after his initial time in Colorado, spending some years in Calgary, and then one each in a few different spots. He’ll be remembered as a valuable, important piece of the Avalanche in the early 2000’s, and a steady offensive presence in the lineup. For those reasons, Tanguay has firmly cemented himself as one face on the Mount Rushmore of Avalanche left wings.