The Avalanche know exactly what they have at the top of the lineup. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog, Devon Toews and Brock Nelson give Colorado a star core that can stack up with anyone in the league.
What isn’t settled yet is the rest of the roster. Colorado enters the season with almost no cushion, and that makes the bottom of the lineup matter in a way it usually doesn’t. With the roster trimmed to 20 players - the bare minimum - there’s little protection against injuries, fatigue or a rough stretch from the wrong part of the depth chart.
That puts the bottom six and the third defensive pairing under a brighter spotlight than usual. Even a setback away from the headliners could force the Avalanche to reshuffle lines or reach for outside help.
It doesn’t have to be MacKinnon or Makar going down for the ripple effects to hit hard. A third-line forward or a depth defenseman missing time could create problems fast.
That’s why T.J. Hughes’ preseason burst drew attention.
His hat trick and four-point night against the Winnipeg Jets turned heads and gave Colorado something to think about. It also underscored a larger truth for this team: if the Avalanche are going to get where they want to go, they need affordable players outside the established core to become real contributors.
Of course, exhibition success only goes so far. Hughes has earned a look, but proving he can handle dependable NHL minutes when the games count is a different challenge entirely.
The Avalanche aren’t building a roster just to make it through October. They’re trying to stay effective into April and, ideally, keep playing for two more months after that.
Over 84 games, the stars can cover a lot - but not forever. The deeper the team has to lean on them to make up for holes elsewhere, the harder that becomes.
MacKinnon and Makar remain the engines of Colorado’s championship hopes, and they’ve already shown they can drag the Avalanche through tough stretches. The rest of the proven core gives them a strong base. But with two extra games added this season, the margin for error gets even tighter.
If Hughes or other depth pieces can become reliable contributors, the 20-man setup might hold up. If they can’t, the Avalanche may find out quickly how fragile the balance really is.
In Other News...
Nicolas Roy Is Finally Settling In With The Avalanche
Nicolas Roys move to Colorado has brought him back together with a familiar face in Martin Necas, and the reunion has helped make the transition smoother than the usual mid-career change of scenery. After arriving in a trade from Toronto last season, Roy has found a steadier footing with the Avalanche, where the early adjustment has been eased by support from teammates and the organization around him.
Now preparing for his first full season with Colorado, Roy is entering a stage where comfort and consistency matter as much as talent. He has also had a front-row view of the next wave of players around the team, including young forward T.J. Hughes, a reminder that the Avalanche are balancing immediate expectations with the development of players who may shape what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Fans Just Got An Early Hint At Two New Looks
The Avalanche may be a ways off from making it official, but a new report has given fans an early peek at what could be coming down the pipeline for 2026-27. According to Icethetics, Colorado is expected to unveil two new primarily white jerseys, including one for the 2027 Winter Classic that would use an off-white base with burgundy accents.
The other design is said to be a Hometown Remix look built around two shades of blue and silver, giving the Avalanche a second fresh option for the same season. The team has not confirmed unveiling dates or final designs, so for now it is still a preview rather than a reveal, but it is enough to get jersey-watchers around Colorado looking ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Cup Hype Just Got A Bold National Push
Craig Buttons early bracket for the 2026-27 NHL postseason gives the Avalanche a familiar kind of spotlight, with the TSN analyst projecting Colorado all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. In his forecast, the Avalanche would emerge from the Western Conference and set up a heavyweight matchup with the Florida Panthers, a pairing that immediately catches the eye because of the talent on both sides and the expectation that Colorado should be in the mix again.
The bigger surprise in Buttons bracket is the confidence he shows in Florida finishing the job, with health and coaching cited as the reasons the Panthers get the edge. For Avalanche fans, the more interesting part is the path itself, which suggests Colorado is viewed not just as a playoff team but as one of the leagues true conference favorites, even as questions linger around the Panthers aging core and injury risk. [Read more 🡒]