Avalanche season preview: Seek consistency behind MacKinnon

Last season: 42-20-8 (.657 points percentage); second place in Western Conference, lost to Dallas Stars in Western Conference Second Round.
Grubauer was 18-12-4 with a 2.63 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in 36 games last season but sustained two lower-body injuries, including one against the Stars in Game 1 of the best-of-7 series, and was outplayed by rookie Pavel Francouz, who was 21-7-4 with a 2.41 GAA and .923 save percentage2
Nathan MacKinnon scored 93 points (35 goals, 58 assists) in 69 games, but after him, there was a severe drop-off in scoring.
Defenseman Cale Makar finished second on Colorado with 50 points (12 goals, 38 assists), and forward Andre Burakovsky was third with an NHL career-high 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists).
Granted, the Avalanche were at times riddled with injuries, and they will no doubt benefit from a healthy Mikko Rantanen, who plays on the top line with MacKinnon but was limited to 42 games last season3
The Avalanche started last season 7-0-1 before going 6-8-1 in their next 15 games.
4 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, scored 52 points (14 goals, 38 assists) in 50 games for Vancouver of the Western Hockey League last season and was part of Colorado's roster for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, gaining valuable experience despite not playing in any games.
Devon Toews showcased his potential last season when he scored 28 points (six goals, 22 assists) in 68 regular-season games and 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 22 postseason games for the New York Islanders.
Video: 31 in 31: Colorado Avalanche 2020-21 season preview.
Martin Kaut earned a late call-up with the Avalanche, playing in nine of their final 12 regular-season games
16 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, got some valuable playing time this season in eight games with MODO of the Swedish Hockey League, but he will have to earn a spot in training camp with Colorado deep at forward
In his first full NHL season, the 25-year-old scored 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 69 games and led the NHL with a plus-40 rating