The Colorado Avalanche are wasting no time getting thrown into the fire.
They open the 2026-27 season Wednesday night at Ball Arena against the LA Kings, and the mood around this team is already heavy with expectation. After last season’s trip to the Western Conference Final, the bar is obvious: get back to the Stanley Cup Final and chase another championship.
With plenty of pundits backing Colorado to go all the way, this rematch of last spring’s first-round matchup feels like more than just a season opener. The Avalanche need to come out sharp.
At the center of it all is the top line, and that starts with Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas. Alongside Artturi Lehkonen, they’re the engines expected to drive the offense again after massive seasons.
MacKinnon won the Rocket Richard Trophy last year with 53 goals, while Necas posted his first 100-point season. Those are the names opponents will key on, and Colorado will need them to set the pace right away against Los Angeles.
That becomes even more important because the Avalanche are carrying just 11 forwards because of injuries and cap considerations. There won’t be much room for passengers. Secondary scoring has to show up, and that puts the spotlight on Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, and captain Gabe Landeskog to support the top line and keep the attack rolling.
One of the most intriguing new faces is TJ Hughes. The Avalanche brought in the 24-year-old NCAA free agent hoping he’d earn a roster spot, and he did more than that. He’s also set to play a role on the top power play unit, which gives him a real chance to make noise right away.
That opportunity matters because Colorado struggled with the man advantage last season. With only 11 forwards on the roster, Hughes could wind up handling double duty on the third and fourth lines too.
That’s a lot of responsibility for a rookie, but it also opens the door for him to make an immediate impression. A strong debut wouldn’t be a surprise at all.
Then there’s the other end of the ice, where the questions are just as important. Cale Makar is back in the spotlight after signing his historic contract extension, and the expectation is simple: keep doing what he’s always done. Still, he’s coming off a major injury late last season, and a minor injury scare during training adds another wrinkle heading into the opener.
Colorado will dress seven defensemen Wednesday night, so Jared Bednar may need to manage minutes carefully early on. That kind of rotation could help everyone settle in as the season starts to unfold.
In net, MacKenzie Blackwood should get the nod, and a clean start from him would go a long way toward setting the right tone. The Avalanche are coming off a Jennings Trophy win and will be looking to repeat that kind of success in 2026-27.
Puck drop is set for 8 pm MDT.
In Other News...
Avalanche Just Made Their Commitment To Jared Bednar Crystal Clear
Jared Bednars run behind the Avalanche bench is set to stretch well beyond this season, with Colorado locking in its head coach on a four-year extension that begins in the 2027-28 season. It is the latest sign that the organization still sees Bednar as a central piece of its identity, even as he heads into his 11th year with the club and continues to own the franchise marks for regular-season and playoff wins.
For an Avalanche team built around stability at the top, the timing says plenty about where the front office wants this to go next. Team president Joe Sakic and Bednar both framed the extension in positive terms, pointing toward the same long view: keeping the foundation intact and pushing for more success in the years ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Just Made Their Faith In Jared Bednar Crystal Clear
The Avalanche made their coaching priorities plain on the eve of a matchup with the Kings, locking in Jared Bednar on a four-season contract extension. It is the latest sign of how firmly the organization views Bednar as the voice behind one of the NHLs steadier contenders, and it comes after he has been behind the bench in Colorado since 2016.
Bednars tenure has already included a Stanley Cup title in the 2021-22 season, giving the extension a clear backdrop of trust and continuity. For the Avalanche, this is less about making a splash than reinforcing the structure they believe has kept them in the leagues upper tier, even as the season moves into another high-stakes stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Opener Is Built Around What Ball Arena Can Bring
The Avalanche will open the 2026-27 season against the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena, and the setting feels built for a night when the building matters as much as the matchup. Colorado has leaned on its home crowd for years, and Nazem Kadris comments this week put a familiar spotlight on the kind of energy and loyalty Avalanche fans bring when the stakes rise.
The opener also carries a little extra edge because of the teams previous playoff meeting, which still shapes how this one is viewed in Denver. Opening night should bring the usual mix of noise, anticipation and a little memory, with Ball Arena expected to provide the kind of atmosphere that can make a simple season debut feel bigger right away. [Read more 🡒]