The Colorado Avalanche are heading into the dog days of summer with a seemingly finished lineup. The trades and free-agent signings have essentially rounded out the roster. As such, it seems that every spot in the lineup is spoken for.
Except for a couple of openings on the fourth line and the bottom pairing on the blue line, it seems that there won’t be many camp battles this fall.
And that’s where the Avalanche’s biggest mistake could lie.
There’s a certain sense of certitude that some teams get when there is a lack of roster battles. Veteran players, in particular, may block the paths of younger players coming up through the pipeline. Now, this statement doesn’t intend to accuse Colorado of not giving younger players a chance. But there’s always a temptation to default to veterans over prospects.
That’s especially true for Stanley Cup contenders.
That’s why the Avalanche must prioritize prospects at the NHL level. In particular, the coaching staff must find ways to allow younger guys to get playing time this upcoming season. We know that Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, hopefully, will be on the ice for every game next season.
But there has to be a balance throughout the lineup. This spring, we saw how the Avs were pretty much gassed when they reached the Western Conference Final. Even with the additional off days in between series, injuries were just too many.
That’s why the coaching staff has to prioritize resting veteran regulars this upcoming season. In the meantime, younger guys can get a chance to show what they’ve got.
Avalanche moves reflect a change in philosophy
The Avalanche’s moves this offseason reflect a change in philosophy. Adding players like Fyodor Svehckov, Zachary L’Heureux, and Vinnie Hinostroza are precisely the sort of depth additions that help balance a lineup.
Yes, the aforementioned players are of the bottom-six ilk. But having solid bottom-six guys allows coaches to whittle down on the big guns’ ice time, especially during certain periods. So, if the Avs are up 6-1 in the third period, Jared Bednar can afford to deploy the third and fourth lines much more. That approach helps save the wear and tear on the top guys.
Similarly, the blueline will need reinforcements from time to time during the season. The addition of Noah Juulsen gives the Avalanche a reliable seventh defenseman. Plus, you would have to think that guys in the AHL could come up to fill in when injuries occur.
That’s why depth is so important this season. Considering that the 2026-27 season will be the first 84-game campaign in 32 years, teams, more than ever, will need to prioritize depth for the entire season.
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