The Colorado Avalanche are going into the season with a few familiar teams in the rearview mirror, but one Central Division club could make life a lot messier than expected: the St. Louis Blues.
Dallas and Minnesota are the obvious names in the mix, and the Avalanche will be tracking both of them closely. But the Blues have positioned themselves as a team that could sneak into the conversation and become a real problem for Colorado.
St. Louis spent the offseason aggressively, and the front office turned its four first-round picks into a haul of meaningful additions.
The Jordan Kyrou deal also brought back a major piece. In all, the Blues added Brandon Carlo from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks, and Connor McMichael from the Washington Capitals.
That group gives St. Louis a very different look, especially when paired with younger players such as Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Jake Neighbours. Those names join established pieces like Dylan Holloway, Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, and Philip Broberg, giving the Blues a deeper and more interesting roster than they had before.
The idea here isn’t that St. Louis is suddenly vaulting from missing the playoffs to finishing first in the division.
That’s not the expectation. But the Blues do look like a team that can fight for a playoff spot, and that alone makes them a factor in the Avalanche’s path.
If the Avalanche and Stars grab two of the top three spots in the Central, the last automatic playoff berth could come down to a crowded race. Minnesota looks like the most likely team to claim that third spot, which would leave Utah, Nashville, and St. Louis battling for what remains.
That kind of setup could turn the division into a four-team fight for one playoff place, with the teams that miss out forced into the wild card scramble. Based on how the Pacific played out last season, it wouldn’t be surprising if five Central Division teams wound up in the postseason in 2026-27.
For Colorado, the message is simple: handle your business. Win games, and the rest takes care of itself. That’s the reality in a division that could get crowded fast.
In Other News...
Avalanche Suddenly Have A Real Gavin Brindley Decision Looming
Gavin Brindley gave the Avalanche a useful look last season, getting into 56 games and chipping in six goals and seven assists while working in limited minutes. For a young player still trying to carve out a permanent NHL role, that kind of production matters, especially on a roster that values speed and energy and has shown it can find room for players who fit the pace.
Brindleys case is a little trickier because of how he profiles. He is smaller, but his quickness and work off the puck make him intriguing, and there is also a sense that he may be better suited on the wing than in the middle after holding his own on faceoffs. Even so, the path to a secure roster spot for 2026-27 is far from clear, with more competition coming and a decision point starting to come into view. [Read more 🡒]
Cale Makar Delay Puts Avalanches Biggest Summer Move In Focus
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The delay may have more to do with timing than tension, with Makar still working back from offseason shoulder surgery. Theres also a sense that the important part may already be settled, leaving only the formal signing to come once everything is ready. It has a bit of the same feel as Connor McDavids recent contract talks, where the noise never quite matched the level of concern, and for the Avalanche that is probably the best sign of all. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Prospect Depth Is Real But The NHL Path Isn't Clear
The Avalanches prospect picture is deeper than it often gets credit for, and a fresh look at the organizations under-25 talent pool reinforces that there is real inventory in the system. Mile High Hockeys staff ranked the top 25 players under 25 in the organization as of Sept. 1, 2026, while also working from an extended list of 35, and the exercise turned up a few near misses who show just how crowded the path can be for young players trying to break through.
Among the players just outside the top 25 were forward Nolan Roed, goaltender Tobias Tvrznik and defenseman Saige Weinstien, each of whom drew enough notice to earn honorable mention status after recent performances that kept them in the conversation. The broader takeaway is familiar for a team trying to balance contention with development: the Avalanche may have more young talent on hand than outsiders realize, but sorting out which prospects can realistically translate that promise into NHL roles is still the hard part. [Read more 🡒]