The Colorado Avalanche have a lineup puzzle on their hands, and it centers on Nazem Kadri. The debate isn’t really whether he can still help.
At 36, he absolutely can. The real issue is where he belongs, because dropping him into the bottom six makes little sense for a team with this much depth.
There’s been chatter about Kadri as a third-line center, but that feels like an underuse of what he still brings. Colorado can afford to think bigger here. Nic Roy looks capable of handling the third-line center role, which opens the door for Kadri to stay higher in the lineup where his skill set can actually swing games.
One obvious option is to use Kadri on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Marin Necas. That setup has a clear logic to it.
MacKinnon and Necas bring the fireworks, but they’re not exactly the shutdown types. Kadri can add offense without giving up the defensive reliability Necas doesn’t really offer.
In that kind of role, he’d be the steady presence keeping the whole thing from flying off the rails.
Another path is even more intriguing: Kadri alongside Brock Nelson and Gabriel Landeskog on the second line. That would be a veteran-heavy group, but it could also be one of the best second lines in years. Nelson scored 33 goals last season, Kadri remains a legitimate scoring threat, and Landeskog supplies the heart and soul.
That second-line spot might be the sweet spot for Kadri. It keeps him high enough to matter, without burying his talent in a role that feels too small for him.
There’s still room for Bednar to mix and match as the season goes on. Kadri could slide to center on the third line at times, especially if the Avalanche want to shake up a game against a tough opponent in the regular season or the playoffs.
But that kind of flexibility is exactly why Kadri matters so much here. Colorado has a rare kind of lineup versatility with him, and if he stays healthy, he may end up being one of the team’s most valuable pieces.
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Avalanche Suddenly Have A Real Roster Battle Fans Should Watch
T.J. Hughes has gone from a late college-career target to a legitimate name to watch in Avalanche camp after signing a one-year, entry-level deal with Colorado. The undrafted senior forward out of Michigan has already been around the organization through captain skates and the rookie tournament, and he brings a little pro seasoning too after spending time with the AHLs Colorado Eagles following his college career.
For Colorado, the intrigue is simple: Hughes is not just here to fill out a roster spot, he is pushing for a place in the opening night lineup. That makes him part of a real early competition, one that gives the Avalanche another look at how a player who arrived through persistence and development might fit into their plans when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]