How about the reason they didn't last year? Lack of goaltending depth.

I'm guessing you haven't seen NJ's projected opening night lineup. Pure juggernauts. I won't be surprised if we lose less than 6 games all year long.

Toronto wouldn’t win the cup if you GAVE them wins in the first two rounds! LMFAO! Same goes for the fish sticks!

they wont be even close...
- Xizord

Really? Like not even as close as last year? Oh wait, we won it last year. Habs finished 12th in the East but youll do much better this year im sure..

Really? Like not even as close as last year? Oh wait, we won it last year. Habs finished 12th in the East but youll do much better this year im sure..
- Leichs

The Oilers won the cup? Your fantasy league does not count.

How they were gift wrapped Devon Toews for two bags of pucks baffles me. But goaltending could be their undoing

Two words, Kad RI

The Av's won't win the cup because....goaltending.

The Av's won't win the cup because....goaltending.
- Oilerman

Oilers goaltending is worse. So is their D. By miles.

Really? Like not even as close as last year? Oh wait, we won it last year. Habs finished 12th in the East but youll do much better this year im sure..
- Leichs

I bet the oilers miss the playoffs.

Goaltending.
Defensive depth.
The unknown injuries.

Doesn't matter what a team looks like now, but how healthy they are and how well they're playing entering the playoffs.
- bcallaway

The Avs may or may not win the Cup, the odds are stacked pretty heavily against any one team winning. That being said, these are their Top 8 D:

Cale Makar
Devon Toews
Sam Girard
Connor Timmins
Ryan Graves
Ian Cole
Erik Johnson
Bo Byram

I suspect the vast majority of teams in the NHL would feel pretty good about that depth in their D corps.

Because when the Lightening had 128 pts, they didnt win the cup.

Goaltending and Avs need a real 2C...Kadri has never been or will be a 2C, good 3C though.

Having a top line that does it all works in the regular season, almost never works in the playoffs.

Why do people keep bringing up goaltending? Did they lose Grubauer and Francouz? They have a top ten tandem and likely would have at least made the final last year if Grubauer didn't get hurt.

Do they have the best goaltending in the league? No. Is it a weakness? No.

In the past decade, there was one maybe two teams that needed an elite goalie to win.

Why do people keep bringing up goaltending? Did they lose Grubauer and Francouz? They have a top ten tandem and likely would have at least made the final last year if Grubauer didn't get hurt.
- Hunkulese

No.

Why do people keep bringing up goaltending? Did they lose Grubauer and Francouz? They have a top ten tandem and likely would have at least made the final last year if Grubauer didn't get hurt.
- Hunkulese

Because people tend to be very shallow and lazy when analyzing teams other than their favorite which is somewhat understandable. The Avs goaltending tandem was 4th in the league in save percentage last season, they're more than capable of manning the net for a Cup winning team.

I just love the suggestion of trading for Fleury who costs 6 million a year and looked just about done for most of last season. The Avs chased him from the net in Vegas. Twice. 6 -1 and 7 -2 were the scores IIRC. Right up there with the rumors that the Avs would trade for Lundquist.

How would Tampa have been without Vasy last year (and, no I'm not saying Grubauer is at the same level as Vasy). Most teams have an insurmountable problem if the top 2 goalies go down. Maybe all teams do.

Because people tend to be very shallow and lazy when analyzing teams other than their favorite which is somewhat understandable. The Avs goaltending tandem was 4th in the league in save percentage last season, they're more than capable of manning the net for a Cup winning team.

I just love the suggestion of trading for Fleury who costs 6 million a year and looked just about done for most of last season. The Avs chased him from the net in Vegas. Twice. 6 -1 and 7 -2 were the scores IIRC. Right up there with the rumors that the Avs would trade for Lundquist.

How would Tampa have been without Vasy last year (and, no I'm not saying Grubauer is at the same level as Vasy). Most teams have an insurmountable problem if the top 2 goalies go down. Maybe all teams do.
- FoppaForever

Best case scenario for the Avs Grubs and Francouz might be their Anti Niemi, but both have very short lifespans. This time next year Colorado will be shopping hard for a new goaltender that is not an aging high priced one.

Biggest mistake people make is going solely on numbers, then again I did that when I first started watching hockey a few decades ago. Numbers are a very small fraction of the analysis of a player, especially when the sample size is extremely small. Roman Cechmanek is a perfect example of that. His numbers are stellar, but he is one of the worst NHL goalies I have seen in a long time. I said it when he was a "Vezina" candidate and said it when he fizzled out in a new environment.

Sakic should be fired for wasting the last two years with a great team and less than stellar goaltending. Having one of their two goalies is fine...as a backup to a great one!

Jeez...it's not like they haven't had the opportunity to pick one up. God knows they've had the cap space.

Sakic is doing in Colorado what Toronto has been doing for the past three plus years with their defense. All those forwards and they refused to trade one or two to shore up the defense.

So until that happens, no, they won't win the Cup. They could, but I doubt it.

Best case scenario for the Avs Grubs and Francouz might be their Anti Niemi, but both have very short lifespans. This time next year Colorado will be shopping hard for a new goaltender that is not an aging high priced one.

Biggest mistake people make is going solely on numbers, then again I did that when I first started watching hockey a few decades ago. Numbers are a very small fraction of the analysis of a player, especially when the sample size is extremely small. Roman Cechmanek is a perfect example of that. His numbers are stellar, but he is one of the worst NHL goalies I have seen in a long time. I said it when he was a "Vezina" candidate and said it when he fizzled out in a new environment.
- Glak18

No one "is going soley on numbers". Pretend I'm a hopeless dumbass (I attended my first NHL game in 1973 so I'm old at the very least) and please explain to me exactly why Grubauer isn't capable of winning a Cup. Better not go soley on numbers though I'm not sure what else you're going to go on. Also, he actually does have his name on the Cup. And that season he won 7 of the Caps last 9 games to essentially save their season.

They won't win because covid will shut the league down.

Sakic should be fired for wasting the last two years with a great team and less than stellar goaltending. Having one of their two goalies is fine...as a backup to a great one!

Jeez...it's not like they haven't had the opportunity to pick one up. God knows they've had the cap space.

Sakic is doing in Colorado what Toronto has been doing for the past three plus years with their defense. All those forwards and they refused to trade one or two to shore up the defense.

So until that happens, no, they won't win the Cup. They could, but I doubt it.
- Bluey

Oh yes let's all go out back to our magical great goalie tree and pick us out some great goalies!!

Tampa will get Kucherov back in time for the playoffs and they will repeat as Cup champs.


- gergeswillems

I'm not sure they can bring him back this year. It looks like they placed him in IR before the season starts and thus do not accrue he cap space as the year progresses. Being at the cap right now, they would not have the cap space to have him on the active roster (If I am understanding how this works).

Sakic should be fired for wasting the last two years with a great team and less than stellar goaltending. Having one of their two goalies is fine...as a backup to a great one!

Jeez...it's not like they haven't had the opportunity to pick one up. God knows they've had the cap space.

Sakic is doing in Colorado what Toronto has been doing for the past three plus years with their defense. All those forwards and they refused to trade one or two to shore up the defense.

So until that happens, no, they won't win the Cup. They could, but I doubt it.
- Bluey

What are you talking about? Getting Grubauer was a solid move. They were 5th in the league in goals-against last year. Who's a better goalie that's been available? Teams don't get rid of elite goalies, and outbidding Florida for Bobrovsky would've been a horrible move.

I can't believe Dallas had a chance to claim Corey Perry and opted no to. Crazy. They'll miss the playoffs without him.

Also note that Riley Barber cleared waivers.

For me it is 2 questions.

First, top 6 is best in NHL (maybe 2nd best next to Toronto) but then there is a drop off in bottom 6. 1-2 injuries and they are seriously effected. Second is goaltending. Arguably among the worst in the league.