Which players are bringing the vibes in the Colorado Avalanche locker room?

It is no secret that, at the beginning of last season, there was some tension in the Colorado Avalanche locker room. Some early struggles flowed over and the team seemed fractured moving forward. They solved many of those issues as the season went along through trades and re-establishing their winning ways. This season, they have built on that foundation and have created a team energy that is all vibes, both on and off the ice.

The biggest piece of the Avs’ culture is, of course, the regular season return of their captain, Gabriel Landeskog. Having his voice back in the room has been huge, especially since he keeps everyone even-keeled. He knows when to encourage and when to challenge. He knows how to bring out the best in his guys, no matter the situation. Aside from the captain, whose responsibilities are unique, who are the other contributors to the Avalanche’s positive energy this season?

Scott Wedgewood

There is no doubt that the vibe turnaround for the Avs last season started with the acquisition of Wedgewood, who just signed an extension for another year, and his “four lines, six D, two tendies, all year” speech after his first win. As an experienced journeyman backup goaltender, he ensures open lines of communication with all of his teammates, first on the ice, then off the ice. In a couple of different interviews, he has specifically stated that he considers it part of his job description to find common ground with his fellow players, no matter their age, role, or tenure.

Parker Kelly

After a recent game, MacKenzie Blackwood stated that the master of the aux cord post-victories had been Kelly. In a later interview, Kelly even stated that he had taught the dance choreography to a handful of his teammates. This light-hearted vibe in the locker room is the ying to the yang of his hard-nosed on-ice play. While many others take the limelight for their highlight-reel plays, Kelly is taking care of the blue-collar details like hits, blocks, and logging minutes of the penalty kill. Such commitment does not go unnoticed by the team.

Brent Burns

It seems like each team with championship aspirations needs an “old-guy-without-a-Cup” to help motivate them. Not only does Burns fill that role, but he goes well beyond it. The intangibles that he brings to the team outside of his on-ice minutes logged are as varied as the items that he carries around in that legendary backpack of his. He has a jokester’s personality balanced by the intensity of a dedicated workout regimen. He is a family guy that mentors his teammates while entrusting his own kids to their influence. And he does it all with a humility that still shines through his hockey-perfect gap-toothed smile.

Gavin Brindley

If a team needs the grizzled veteran to emulate and pull for, it also needs a starry-eyed youth to be inspired by. Brindley’s determined enthusiasm and work ethic are an inspiration to even the most jaded hockey soul.  His can-do attitude, no mater the role given him, makes the team better on the ice, and that success translates off the ice as well. While he might not be as vocal as many of the other listed here, his achievements are celebrations that the whole team can vicariously partake in, bringing them all even closer together.

The Colorado Avalanche have enjoyed a very strong start to the season thus far, in part, due to their “vibes guys” keeping the locker room a fun and inviting place for all. When, not if, they make a deep playoff run this spring, these players are the ones who will be leading the way. Whether with a smile, a word of encouragement, a silly song, a workout routine, a chat over dinner, they will make sure that the team that vibes together, wins together.