Projecting the impact of an 84-game schedule on Avalanche in 2026-27

One of the most interesting angles to the 2026-27 season is the expanded schedule. The league will be moving from 82 to 84 games for the first time in over 30 years.

In a previous piece, I outlined how goaltending will be a crucial element in getting by this season. But what about the overall impact on the entire team? Two additional games may not seem like a whole lot. Nevertheless, the cumulative effect of those two extra matchups could lead to unexpected consequences.

NHL shortening preseason to make up for longer regular seasons

An interesting change, sort of lost in the shuffle, is the shortened preseason. In previous seasons, teams played six preseason games. A valid criticism was that the number of preseason matchups was too many, especially when mostly AHLers suited up for those contests.

This time around, the number of games will be much lower. Teams will be looking at four preseason games, essentially meaning that NHL regulars might suit up for just one of those games. And starting goalies may not even see any preseason action.

While fewer preseason games could save some wear and tear on regulars, it also means that regulars will be hitting official NHL ice much sooner than in other seasons. With the Avalanche starting the season on September 30, the team’s regulars could be seeing game action even two weeks ahead of the usual schedule.

But there will be a way to offset that.

Schedule won’t be as compressed for Avalanche

The defining characteristic of the last two seasons has been the compressed schedule. The 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Olympics made both campaigns a gauntlet. Teams needed to play multiple back-to-backs and as many as five games in seven nights to make up for the lost time.

That won’t be the case. Despite the uneven number of back-to-backs for some teams, the Avalanche seems all right. They’ll play 10 back-to-backs, allowing for a little more breathing room.

That’s why goaltending will be crucial. But getting rest in between games and having depth to spell regulars when needed will also be a major concern.

Colorado have to pace itself

It was evident that the Avalanche ran out of gas in the Western Conference Final. The additional toll that the Olympics took on Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Artturi Lehkonen, and Gabe Landeskog became notorious as the season moved into the playoffs. Despite having time off in between series, Makar, for example, could not recover from the shoulder injury he sustained towards the end of the regular season.

So, the Avalanche will need to pace themselves. They will have to turn up the heat when needed and back off when they can. That approach could see the bottom six play a much more prominent role, especially in blowout games. Sure, MacKinnon and Makar want to be out there for every minute of every game. But if there’s a lesson the Avs can take from teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers is that the regular season is only a precursor to what really matters most: The Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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