The Avalanche’s goaltending picture is drawing some skepticism, and it’s easy to see why.
Colorado reached the Western Conference Final in last season’s postseason run before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights, who then lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Final. There were several reasons the Avs came up short against Vegas, but the netminding wasn’t really the main one.
Even so, not everyone is convinced the team is set up well in goal right now. Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report zeroed in on Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood in his “way too early bold predictions for every NHL team” piece from the other day, and his biggest question is whether Wedgewood can back up his 2025-26 season with another strong year.
Gretz also noted the reality that Blackwood was “wildly inconsistent” last season, which lines up with what many saw. Wedgewood did enough in the postseason to earn the starting job, but if he opens training camp as the No. 1 option, the “inexperience” label will still follow him.
That puts even more pressure on the skaters in front of him, and in front of whoever else starts on a given night. Against Vegas, Colorado had too many stretches where it couldn’t produce enough offense to make life easier on its goaltenders. That’s a tough spot for any goalie.
The upside for the Avalanche is that inexperience doesn’t stick around forever. And while the playoffs are a different animal from the regular season, Colorado should get another shot if things go the way most people expect. That would give the team a chance to change the postseason storyline and push back against the idea that its championship window is closing.
There’s also the issue of Valeri Nichushkin being out, especially with Brock Nelson and Martin Necas not stepping up in the playoffs. Both of those players will need to find their game when the moment comes.
In Other News...
The Avalanche Villain Pick Is Going To Reignite Some Old Hatred
A recent Athletic rundown of the biggest villains in NHL franchise history landed on a familiar set of names for Avalanche fans, and it is the kind of list that tends to stir up old grudges fast. Patrick Roy showing up as the Red Wings top villain is no surprise in these parts, but the broader exercise also reopened the book on a few other figures who still carry baggage in Colorado, from Todd Bertuzzi to former stars who left town under less-than-clean circumstances.
Mikko Rantanen and Matt Duchene remain polarizing for different reasons, and Adam Footes path back to Colorado after forcing his way out of Columbus only adds another wrinkle to the franchises long memory. Lists like this are built to provoke, and for Avalanche fans it is less about the ranking itself than the reminder that some names still come with plenty of unfinished business. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Lineup Idea Could Change Everything Up Front
The Avalanches forward picture has a way of inviting second looks, especially when the conversation shifts from what the roster is to what it could be. One hypothetical setup floating around has Nic Roy handling the third line center job, while Nazem Kadri is pushed to the wing and slotted into the top six, a wrinkle that would change the look and balance of Colorados attack in a hurry.
It is the kind of idea that forces a pause because it touches both depth and identity, the two things a contender can never have too much of up front. Around the league, there are still a few loose ends too, including Ryan Reaves remaining on the open market as he tries to keep his career going before camp, while Andrew Agozzino has already moved from playing into coaching, a reminder of how quickly the NHL landscape keeps shifting. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Forward Under The Most Pressure Might Not Be Who Fans Think
Colorados forward group enters the new season with plenty of familiar names carrying real pressure, from Martin Necas and Brock Nelson to captain Gabriel Landeskog. The Avalanche also brought in veteran winger Jaden Schwartz on a three-year deal, hoping his track record can hold up in a larger role, while younger pieces like Gavin Brindley and established contributors such as Artturi Lehkonen have their own reasons to treat camp like an audition.
Schwartz is the one who could wind up under the brightest spotlight because of where Colorado needs him to fit. With the Avalanche reshaping the middle of the lineup, he has a chance to slide into a top-six opening and give the club the kind of reliable production it needs after moving on from key pieces. If he can look more like the player who finished last season strong, he changes the conversation around this forward group. If not, the questions around Colorados depth only get louder. [Read more 🡒]