Colorado Avalanche 2014-15 Season Primer

The Colorado Avalanche surprised many last season by winning the Central division. They’ll be in tough to repeat their 2013-14 results this season.

Use the below Tabs to view Avalanche info for this upcoming season, as well as some numbers from last year.

2013-14 record: 52-22-8, 112 points
Where they finished: 1st in the Central; 2nd in the Western Conference; 3rd in the NHL

Player Salaries: $64,700,000 (24)
Cap Payroll: $67,279,762
Bonuses: $2,850,000
Cap Space: $1,720,238
Forwards: $41.58 million(14)
Defensemen: $17.6 million (8)
Goalies: $7.35 million (2)
Buyouts: $750,000
Source: CapGeek.com

In: Ben Street C, Borna Rendulic RW, Brad Stuart D, Bruno Gervais D, Daniel Briere C/W, Dennis Everberg C, Jarome Iginla RW, Jesse Winchester RW/LW, Maxim Noreau D, Roman Will G, Samuel Henley LW, Zach Redmond D

Out: Andre Benoit D, Brad Malone LW/C, Bryan Lerg LW, David Van Der Gulik LW/RW, Mark Olver C/LW, Matt Hunwick D, PA Parenteau RW, Paul Stastny C

2014-15 Team Outlook:

With the emergence of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, and the rest of the Avalanche’s young forwards, the Avalanche skyrocketed up the standings and won a very tough Central Division in Patrick Roy’s 1st year as head coach.

While the development of the team’s young players is certainly encouraging, and there’s still room for many of their core guys to improve. It’s hard to see Colorado doing anything but sliding down the standings in 2014-15.

Their elite core of young high-end forwards should keep them in the playoff hunt in what is a very tough Western Conference, but I think it’s a stretch to expect them to win a division title once again.

Not only did Chicago, Dallas and St. Louis improve, but also a case can be made that the Avalanche are a worse team now than a year ago. Factor in the impact their unsustainably high shooting percentages had and the likelihood of regression, and it’s hard to be overly optimistic about their chances next season.

In Paul Stastny, the Avalanche lost a legitimate top line center, and coupled with P.A. Parenteau two of their top possession driving forwards are no longer in the picture.

Add Jarome Iginla, who is by no means a possession star and isn’t the fleetest of foot at this point in his career, a declining Danny Briere, and possession anchor defenseman in Brad Stuart, it’s hard to see where the Avalanche improved.

A poor possession team (47%) should be worse in that regard next season, and with their sky-high shooting percentages and full strength save percentages (.930SV%) almost inevitably going to regress, a 2013 division winner could fall out of the playoffs altogether.

I expect them to compete for a spot, as MacKinnon, Landeskog, Matt Duchene and co. are too good for them not to, but it won’t be shocking if they don’t make the playoffs.

Written by Todd Cordell, who can be found on twitter @ToddCordell.

The depth chart listed below was taken from NHL.com’s 30-in-30. 

FORWARDS
Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon -Jarome Iginla
Alex Tanguay – Matt Duchene – Ryan O’Reilly
Jamie McGinn – John Mitchell – Daniel Briere
Cody McLeod – Marc-Andre Cliche – Maxime Talbot
Jesse Winchester – Patrick Bordeleau

DEFENSEMEN
Jan Hejda – Erik Johnson
Brad Stuart – Tyson Barrie
Nick Holden – Nate Guenin
Ryan Wilson

GOALTENDERS
Semyon Varlamov
Reto Berra

A look at the Colorado Avalanche top prospects heading into this season. Each source may use different classifications as to if a player is deemed a prospect or has graduated on from a prospect.

* Dobber Prospects – Prospects based on relevance in a fantasy-hockey keeper league, not actual talent on the ice.

Colorado Avalanche Draft History from the past five years

Performance and Usage Charts for the Colorado Avalanche from last season, from Extra Skater.