The Colorado Avalanche are usually defined by the usual headliners - Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and the rest of the established core. But early this season, a different group has started to turn heads: Jaden Schwartz, Fedor Svechkov and T.J. Hughes.
It’s an unlikely trio on paper, but the early returns have been strong enough that head coach Jared Bednar is already showing confidence in the combination. The Avalanche’s third line has been creating offense while also keeping things tidy in its own end, and that balance is what makes it interesting.
Before Friday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the line had been on the ice for nearly 43 minutes together. In that span, according to Evan Rawal of The Denver Gazette, Colorado controlled nearly 62 percent of the shot attempts and 70 percent of the scoring chances. For a line with two players still carving out their place at the NHL level, those are eye-catching numbers.
Schwartz is the veteran in the mix. The 34-year-old spent most of his career with the St.
Louis Blues and Seattle Kraken before signing with the Avalanche as a free agent over the summer. He also brings championship experience, having been part of the Blues’ 2019 Stanley Cup team.
And he’s already made his presence felt offensively, scoring twice in Colorado’s 7-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Oc. 8, with Hughes setting up one of those goals.
Hughes’ path to this point has been a little different. The former University of Michigan standout went undrafted, then earned his way onto the Avalanche roster. That makes the fact that he’s contributing this early even more notable.
Svechkov has brought a different kind of value. The former Nashville Predators first-round pick has earned Bednar’s trust at center, where he’s taken on defensive responsibilities and added work on the penalty kill.
What’s made this line work is the way the pieces fit together. Schwartz gives them poise and puck management, Svechkov adds size and defensive awareness, and Hughes supplies energy and offensive flair.
Just as important, the line doesn’t seem to hinge on one player carrying the load. Each forward has a defined role, which gives the group a chance to function without needing to rely only on scoring.
Colorado already has plenty of high-end talent to stress opposing defenses. But Bednar has also made it clear over time that he wants his younger players to handle real defensive responsibility.
That’s why the early work from Hughes and Svechkov stands out so much. If this chemistry holds, the Avalanche may have found another line they can trust when the games matter most.
In Other News...
Avalanche Forward Depth Tested Again After Another Zach LHeureux Setback
Zach LHeureuxs return to the Avalanche lineup will have to wait a little longer after another injury interruption slowed what was already a delayed start to his season. The forward is now dealing with an upper-body issue unrelated to the lower-body problem that had kept him out before, and head coach Jared Bednar said he will miss at least two more games as the team heads out on the road.
Bednar also confirmed LHeureux will not travel with the club on the upcoming trip, another frustrating pause for a player trying to get his season moving. For Colorado, it adds one more test to a forward group that has already had to manage depth concerns before getting much of a look at what LHeureux can provide. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Could Get Pulled Back Into A Goalie Saga Fast
Connor Hellebuycks situation in Winnipeg could soon become one of the more interesting goalie stories on the board, and Colorado has been mentioned as a team worth watching if it turns into something bigger. The Jets team-imposed suspension is expected to run through October 23, and once that date passes, Hellebuyck could rejoin the club. He reportedly asked for a trade in August, which has kept the conversation alive even as Winnipeg has not confirmed any intention to move him.
For the Avalanche, the appeal is obvious enough to be part of the buzz. They do have goaltending options, but a name like Hellebuyck can change the temperature of a situation quickly if Winnipeg opens the door. Buffalo has also been floated as a possible fit, and for now this remains speculation rather than a clear-cut market, but Colorado would be wise to stay attentive if the Jets posture shifts once Hellebuyck is back in the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Former Avalanche Forward Is Already Stirring Questions About Colorados Decision
Jack Drury is already making an early impression in Nashville, and that is bound to get a little extra attention back in Colorado. In the Predators 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, Drury scored his first goal with his new team after being moved by the Avalanche in the offseason, then signing a five-year deal to stay put in Nashville.
For Colorado, it is a familiar kind of offseason storyline: a player the organization once added in a trade is now settling in elsewhere and starting to show why another club valued him enough to commit long term. Drury had already spent time with the Avalanche after coming over from the Carolina Hurricanes, so this is less about a strangers breakthrough than a former depth piece reminding his old team what it gave up. [Read more 🡒]