MHH Roundtable: Let the games begin!
Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The roster is set, now we are ready for puck drop on the 2024-25 Colorado Avalanche season. With the Colorado Avalanche season kick-off just around the corner and the setting of their initial roster, here are our final thoughts just before the puck drops on the 2024-25 season.
Note: we are continuing the assumption that both Nikolai Kovalenko and Ivan Ivan will still play at least on opening night after all the salary cap manipulation dust settles.
How much change will we see to this roster prior to the postseason?
Evan: I’d already say it’s a bit of a surprise compared to the preseason. Pierre-Eduoard Bellemare seemed like a shoo-in for the fourth-line center position but was released from his PTO. Ivan Ivan seems to have earned said position, which is a surprise. The same can seemingly be said about Cal Ritchie, who looks to have earned at least some NHL games. We’ll see if it sticks once Artturi Lehkonen, Valeri Nichushkin, and/or Gabriel Landeskog return, or if it’s just a nine-game trial before being sent back to the OHL.
Jess: I know it’s a bit of a cop-out answer, but it really depends in my mind. As Evan touched on, a lot of Colorado’s current, what I’ll call “What-If” scenarios, will kind of dictate how much more change we’ll see prior to the postseason as those respective situations sort themselves out. I also think that whatever their biggest needs end up being come trade deadline time will dictate how much change we see, and it’s near impossible to predict exactly what those needs might be come the trade deadline, as that list of needs could change overnight due to something like injuries as the season goes on.
Jackie: I’d love to see more youth and not less than what they are starting with including some meaningful graduations from the AHL as the season moves along. An older roster won’t do the Avalanche any favors as they try to find success in the playoffs again. I don’t see a big trade deadline with a lack of assets but if Landeskog or Nichushkin’s absence extends there might be even more holes to fill.
Ezra: If Malinski and De Haan/Kylington/Ludvig can stick as a quality bottom pair, I don’t expect to see any changes on the backend. Bringing in a veteran depth defender for the playoffs is generally a good plan for contenders, but this blue line is pretty full if everyone is playing well. Up front obviously a ton is up in the air on the wing, but I’d also key on the fourth line - contenders often add responsible defensive forwards who can grind and PK for playoff runs, so Ivan Ivan and Parker Kelly have to prove they can be those guys or they’ll get replaced in the spring.
Who will skate in their last opening night with the Avalanche?
Evan: I think this may be the last opening night for Alexandar Georgiev in an Avalanche jersey. He has been solid in his time in an Avs jersey and in the final year of his contract, is looking for a bigger payday. It is commonly known Joe Sakic and Chris MacFarland does not like paying goaltenders large sums of money. Hence, this may be in for Georgiev who could get a bigger contract outside of Colorado and it may be Justus Annunen being promoted to the top spot or someone else being acquired before then.
Jess: I’ll echo what Evan said, I think Georgiev is the easy answer here, just because he’s in the final year of his contract, he’s probably going to be looking to get paid as he should be. He can definitely get a bigger contract somewhere other than Colorado, especially with the Mikko Rantanen extension looming for the club, and the emergence of Annunen.
Jackie: One of these years the front office has to find an upgrade on Joel Kiviranta, right? So I’ll conjure up some optimism to say that will happen next year rather than predict the team will lose another member of their core.
Ezra: Jonathan Drouin is likely on his way out next summer if Val and Gabe come back and remain in the team’s long-term plans. To pay him they’d have to move one of those two or Lehkonen, and I just don’t see that happening. I also don’t expect De Haan back next year - he either plays great and earns bigger money elsewhere, or is replaceable.
Who is your breakout candidate for the season?
Evan: This may be the easy answer, but I’m looking for Nikolai Kovalenko to break out this season. He’ll be heavily relied on early on this season in his first full season of playing in North America and had a great preseason. He didn’t have a phenomenal opening with the Avs in the playoffs last season and was fine for the Colorado Eagles in the AHL. Plus when Lehkonen, Nichushkin, and/or Landeskog return, he should still be a part of the bottom six. I don’t know if he’ll get more than a 40-point season, but he’ll certainly be involved whether or not it’s reflected on the scoresheet.
Jess: I’ll go with Cal Ritchie for this one. I don’t think that’s exactly a hot take given his showing in the preseason, and assuming he sticks to the NHL roster and it’s not a nine-game trial or something, I think he could be primed for a really impressive breakout rookie year. The skill is absolutely on full display for Ritchie in the preseason, and I’m really excited to see how he does in a proper NHL game setting.
Jackie: My pick is Erik Brännström…too soon? It’s not a bold prediction to go with the man who must have factored into that Braännström trade to some degree and that’s Sam Malinski. The thinking was all summer that he wasn’t likely to get waived regardless but Malinski’s performance in the preseason left no doubt. If he starts the season in the lineup on the third pair and plays regularly he has a chance to be the breakout player of the year. Role and/or organizational commitment level might be limiting on the young forwards and Malinski’s path to meaningful contributions looks a lot clearer.
Ezra: Fully agree with Malinski, and I love Ivan Ivan right now so I’ll go with him. He’s not going to score a ton so he’s not that kind of breakout candidate, but I think he is going to earn consistent ice and develop into a Stephane Yelle / Andrew Cogliano type that Bednar will absolutely love. He’s too young to be a faceoff ace like Yelle at this point, but if he adds that skill too he’ll carve out a nice bottom-six career for himself.
What are your final predictions for the 2024-25 Avalanche season?
Evan: Colorado has a tough task on its hands - starting the year shorthanded with new faces might lead to a hard start with teams around them getting better. In my opinion, it’ll be a three-horse race between the Avs, Dallas Stars, and Nashville Predators to win the Central Division - and there may only be five points or less separating the three at season’s end. But if Colorado gets healthy and has everybody back by the time the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, look out. They can make a run with a full squad, but a lot needs to happen first to make it happen.
Jess: As Evan said, there’s no denying that they have an incredibly tough task on their hands when it comes to competing in the Central Division this year. I agree too that it’s probably going to be a very tight race for the top of the division ultimately. All of those teams while very good on paper, certainly have their own flaws just like Colorado does. I can’t remember for the life of me where this quote comes from, but there’s one quote that I quite like that goes “I don’t need easy, I just need possible”. In this case, winning the division certainly won’t be easy for this Avalanche team but I think it is possible. If they don’t win the division, I think they can place in the top three at the very least. And to echo what Evan said again, if they can get healthy come playoff time, that’s a really good postseason team.
Jackie: A slow start might put the team in a position to fight for their playoff lives much more than they have in recent years. Depth is already getting tested with the planned absences and if one or two other unexpected blows hit this season could really turn for the worse. The degree of meaningful contributions they receive from young players might really set the bar for what this Avalanche squad can achieve.
Ezra: Cup or bust, baby! They just need one of Gabe, Val, Cal, or Kovy to hit as a quality second liner, and they’ll be in good shape alongside the tried and true first and third units. I see a quality season coming for Georgiev in a contract year, and the blueline is still at least top-five in the league even with an unproven third pair. The first chunk of the season might be tough with no Lehkonen and a preponderance of youth in the lineup, but don’t let that fool you - this team is already good, and potential reinforcements coming will only make them better. Bottom line: they probably won’t win the division, but they should still contend for the cup. ...
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