The Colorado Avalanche have turned in their opening-night roster, and they’re heading into Wednesday’s season opener against the Los Angeles Kings with room left over.
Up front, the list is built around the names you’d expect. Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Artturi Lehkonen, Jaden Schwartz, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, Gabriel Landeskog, Fedor Svechkov, Parker Kelly, Nicolas Roy and T.J. Hughes are all in the forward group.
On the blue line, Colorado is sticking with its familiar top duo in Cale Makar and Devon Toews. Josh Manson and Brent Burns are the veteran presence on the back end, while Brett Kulak and Sam Malinski add depth. Noah Juulsen is also on hand as the team’s seventh defenseman for now.
In goal, the Avalanche are rolling with the same tandem they’ve used for the past couple of seasons: Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. That’s about as unsurprising as it gets for this roster, right alongside MacKinnon, Landeskog and Makar.
A few familiar names are missing because they’re currently dealing with injuries. Logan O’Connor is the biggest one there; he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury after previous hip injuries that required surgery.
Forward Zachary L’Heureux, Taylor Makar, Trent Miner, and Georgii Merkulov are also on the injury/non-roster list.
O’Connor and L’Heureux have been placed on injured reserve.
Right now, Colorado is carrying 20 players. The idea is to keep some cap space available for later in the season, when unforeseen issues can create a need for extra flexibility. NHL rules require teams to carry at least 20 players during the season, while the active roster maxes out at 23.
That leaves the Avalanche with a little wiggle room, and some early-season movement still seems likely.
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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 🡒]
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Avalanche Depth Is Under Pressure Right From Opening Night
The Avalanche are heading into opening night with little margin for error, leaning on a bare-bones 20-player roster and the familiar weight carried by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. That kind of setup can work when the stars are rolling, but it also puts a spotlight on the supporting cast sooner than most teams would prefer, especially when the regular season has barely begun.
T.J. Hughes is one of the depth names to watch after showing promise in the preseason, and Colorado may need that kind of contribution right away just to keep the lineup functioning at a high level. The larger concern is how long the Avalanche can stay effective and healthy while operating with so little depth, because the season has a way of exposing every thin spot on a roster. [Read more 🡒]