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Can the Avalanche live up to expectations?

October 12, 2021, 4:59 PM ET [4 Comments]
Steve Palumbo
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
It's finally here. Hockey season is back and just like clockwork, the Colorado Avalanche are odds on favorites to win the whole dang thing. The expectations are through the roof. Are the Avs up to the task this time around?

The hockey world is already predicting the Avalanche win the Cup as the President's trophy with Nathan Mackiinon winning the Hart, Cale Makar winning the Norris and Darcy Kuemper snagging the Vezina. It's an embarrassment of riches that could just become an embarrassment if the team bows out of the playoffs early once again.

Colorado wrapped up the preseason with a 2-4 record. The results mean nothing but there has been plenty to talk about. Some good. Some bad. From Bowen Byrum's exceptional camp, to Pavel Francouz's ankle sprain to Jack Johnson making the team. And now Kurtis MacDermid is skating as a forward. This season is gearing up to be interesting if anything at all.

If this season is going to be a special one it's not going to come easy. They are already dealing with Covid issues.

Head coach Jared Bednar and superstar Nathan Mackinnon will both miss opening night with Covid related protocols. It's not serious. Mackinnon is asymptomatic but it's just an example of how tough the next 82 games are going to be.

BTW, general manager Joe Sakic confirms that his team is 100% vaccinated. Take that for what it's worth. Doesn't mean they won't deal with Covid issues just means they should get past them quickly. Knock on wood.

Seriously though, this team has it all despite losing some key pieces this summer. Sakic has done well to fill those holes and to make this team toughrt to play on the back end. They got pushed around a bit by Vegas is the playoffs and I thing they've done a good job addressing that need.

My observations on this opening night eve...

- Once Mackinnon is back on the ice I fully expect him to havean MVP season - dare I say his best season to date?

- Having a healthy Eric Johnson should do wonders. If he stays healthy he could be the biggest addition to this team. period.

- Any team that can play healthy health Ryan Murray on its third defensive pairing is a Sranley Cup contender.

- Bowen Byrum is already being compared to Makar. Is it even possible for one team to have two generational blueliners? We will soon find out.

- How will Darcy Kuemper enjoy facing less shots on goal? Will he boom? or will he simply bust?

- How many of you agree the 2021-22 Avs will be the first team to win the President's Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season since the 2012–13 Chicago Blackhawks?

- I think Alex Newhook is going to be a very, very good hockey player. And how about Samp Ranta making the team? Both players round out a very balanced forward group.

Here is the 23-man opening night roster:

Andre Burakovsky
Bowen Byram
J.T. Compher
Samuel Girard
Darren Helm
Jonas Johansson
Erik Johnson
Jack Johnson
Tyson Jost
Nazem Kadri
Darcy Kuemper
Gabriel Landeskog
Kurtis MacDermid
Nathan MacKinnon
Cale Makar
Ryan Murray
Alex Newhook
Valeri Nichushkin
Logan O'Connor
Sampo Ranta
Mikko Rantanen

Injured and/or Non-Roster

Pavel Francouz
Devon Toews


I'll have a gameday preview tomorrow. Enjoy your last sleep without Avs hockey for quite some time.

Thanls for reading,
Steve
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