The Colorado Avalanche opened 2026-27 training camp in Centennial, and day one brought a familiar setup with a few notable twists.
One of the biggest surprises was seeing Beckett Hamilton on a line with Gabe Landeskog and Nazem Kadri. Hamilton spent part of the warm-up talking with Landeskog before the drills started, and his first session offered a clear snapshot of where he is right now: the skating needs work, but his positioning was solid through most of the drills.
Hamilton is not expected to stay in the NHL this season, but the camp reps still matter. Getting that kind of experience alongside one of the league’s longest-tenured captains is the sort of thing he can take back to Red Deer, where he’s also a captain.
MacKenzie Blackwood also got a clean start to camp. He looked composed in net, though the timing was still coming back, especially in odd-man-rush situations.
His movement laterally and his puck tracking were already in place. When asked about coming into camp, Blackwood said last season was “ underwhelming ” and added that he was eager to get back to work with a clean bill of health.
There was also a sharp moment between Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen, as the two connected on a well-run two-on-one. MacKinnon sent the cross-ice pass, and Lehkonen finished it glove side on Blackwood.
The chemistry question around that group will be worth watching, especially with Lehkonen, MacKinnon, and Necas continuing to build time together. After the first session, those three stayed out with Gabe Landeskog and Nazem Kadri to work on one-timers, with Blackwood taking the shots in an effort to keep the puck out.
Group two brought another strong early look, with Ilya Nabokov standing out right away. He made a nice side-to-side save on Brock Nelson and handled the early work well.
Overall, it was a solid opening day for the Avalanche. The group looked healthy and ready to move on from last season, with Cale Makar the only exception after hitting the ice first in a red sweater.
The Avalanche are back at it for day two of camp tomorrow. Cale’s injured status also sounds like it shouldn’t last long.
In Other News...
Avalanche May Have A Real Connor Hellebuyck Opening Now
Connor Hellebuycks situation in Winnipeg has suddenly become one of the most interesting storylines around the league for a Colorado Avalanche team that is always looking for goaltending answers. The Jets announced the goaltender has been suspended after failing to report to training camp, and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is expected to explain more when he speaks to the media.
For the Avalanche, the relevance is obvious. A suspension gives Winnipeg the ability to withhold payment because of the contract breach, and it has already sparked talk about where this could go next, from a possible contract dispute to trade chatter. Colorado does not have to do anything today, but with a name like Hellebuyck suddenly in a messy situation, this is the kind of opening that can change quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Face A Roster Squeeze They May Not Escape Cleanly
The Avalanche are staring at an early roster dilemma that could shape how they move through the opening stretch of the season. Six players will need to clear waivers for the first time, which means Colorado has to balance keeping enough depth in the organization with the risk of losing someone for nothing if another team decides to take a chance. It is the kind of problem good teams run into, but it is not a simple one, especially when contract status, previous experience and organizational depth all factor into the decision-making.
Some of the names in that group look more like AHL candidates than NHL locks, while others sit in a trickier gray area where the safest move on paper may still carry real downside. Colorado will have to sort through who can be exposed and who cannot, and the answers are not always obvious when a roster is this tight. The next few moves could tell just as much about the Avalanches depth chart as they do about the players themselves. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Fans Did A Double Take When Brent Burns Arrived At Camp
Brent Burns showed up at the Avalanches first media availability of training camp looking like the kind of player who can still surprise even after 22 seasons in the NHL. The veteran defenseman arrived with a noticeably cleaned-up face, a fresh trim to his signature facial hair and a smile that looked a little different, thanks to new front teeth replacing the gap-toothed grin fans have associated with him for years.
For Colorado, the visual change was the immediate conversation starter, but Burns remains very much part of the hockey story. He is entering his 23rd NHL season and is closing in on the all-time consecutive games played record while still contributing on the ice, giving the Avalanche a rare mix of durability and familiarity. The team will open its 2026-27 season on Sept. 30 against the Los Angeles Kings, and Burns will be one of the more closely watched figures when the season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]