September is loaded for the Colorado Avalanche, and the calendar is moving fast toward the 2026-27 season opener.
Before the puck drops on Sept. 30 at Ball Arena against the Los Angeles Kings, the Avalanche will work through a stretch that includes rookie games, media availability, training camp and a four-game preseason slate. Some of the dates have been confirmed by the organization, while others are the expected checkpoints leading into camp.
The first on-ice action comes Sept. 12 and Sept. 13 at the Rookie Faceoff, where Colorado’s rookies will face the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks in a tournament hosted by the San Jose Sharks. It’s the first chance to see some of the organization’s younger players in game action before the full group gets to camp.
The off-ice schedule starts picking up right after that. The Avalanche are expected to hold their annual charity golf classic in Castle Pines on Sept. 14, which has often served as one of the first chances for veterans to speak with the media ahead of the new season.
Media day is expected to follow on Sept. 15 or 16, with the team still set to confirm the exact date. Traditionally, it lands the day before training camp opens, which would make Sept. 16 the likelier option. That day should bring press conferences with head coach Jared Bednar, captain Gabe Landeskog, superstar forward Nathan MacKinnon and other key players.
Training camp is expected to run Sept. 17-19 at Family Sports. That’s when the roster picture starts to come into focus, with veterans joining the rookies and younger players trying to make their mark. This year’s camp and preseason will be shorter than usual under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, so the number of players invited will be something to watch.
From there, the preseason starts in earnest. Colorado opens its four-game schedule on Sept. 20 at Ball Arena against the Utah Mammoth, then heads north on Sept. 21 for its first road game against the Winnipeg Jets. The Avalanche will return home on Sept. 25 for their final preseason game at Ball Arena against the Jets before closing the exhibition schedule on Sept. 26 on the road against the Utah Mammoth.
By Sept. 30, it all shifts from tune-up mode to the real thing, with Colorado beginning another regular season at home against the Kings.
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For Colorado fans, the move does not change the day-to-day reality in Denver, but it does tighten the connection between one of the NHLs most high-profile ownership groups and another big-league club with plenty of pressure attached. The Angels have been stuck outside the playoff picture since 2009 despite rosters that featured stars like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, so the next chapter under Kroenkes group will be watched closely for what it might say about how the company operates across sports. [Read more 🡒]