The Colorado Avalanche has a roster worthy of Stanley Cup contender status. Though, like every other top team in the NHL, an upgrade or two before the trade deadline could certainly help.
There’s no definitive favorite as the 2025-26 NHL season draws near. Sure, the Florida Panthers are back-to-back champions and return the bulk of their roster, but a three-peat would also mean four consecutive trips to the Cup Final. That’s really hard to do.
The Avs are relatively healthy, with training camp less than two weeks away. There was just enough offseason roster turnover, plus the expected return to full-time duty for captain Gabe Landeskog, that this camp is as much about where the pieces fit for Colorado as who is going to be in the lineup Oct. 7 at Los Angeles.
There are a couple of spots open up front, but the greatest intrigue could come from how Jared Bednar pieces the lineup together for the Kings and beyond. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the potential position battles at Avs camp — not just the ones involving players fighting for a spot on the team.
First-line wings
- Incumbents: Artturi Lehkonen, Martin Necas
- Contenders: Gabe Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin
- Wild cards: Ross Colton, Victor Oloffson
Who gets to play next to Nathan MacKinnon? Two of the most coveted wing positions in the NHL could be up for grabs, depending on how Bednar wants to deploy his perennial MVP candidate.
Lehkonen and Necas spent a lot of time next to MacKinnon after Brock Nelson arrived. One is a do-it-all guy (Lehkonen), and one is talented enough to match wits and skills with a superstar (Necas). It works.
That doesn’t mean Bednar won’t tinker. All coaches do. Colton had chemistry with MacKinnon early last season. Olofsson has had some good runs next to Jack Eichel. Could either of them find a home there, helping Bednar to spread the wealth?
Here’s a sicko mode idea: What if both of those guys flanked MacKinnon and allowed the Avs to load up a third line with two great wings? Given how Bednar has used MacKinnon for years now, it would be easy for him to double-shift when the No. 3 center has extra penalty killing duties or the club is chasing the game.
Second-line wings
- Incumbents: Landeskog, Nichushkin
- Contenders: Lehkonen, Necas
- Wild cards: Colton, Olofsson
The Avs finished the Dallas series with Landeskog and Nichushkin flanking Nelson — a hulking, potentially devastating line. Jonathan Drouin is gone, so that looks like Landeskog’s spot unless he moves up next to MacKinnon.
If Bednar put that trio together on the first day of camp and said they stay together until something breaks, it would make a lot of sense. If Landeskog and Nichushkin can both play close to a full season, that trio has a “best second line in the NHL” ceiling.
No. 3 center
- Incumbent: None
- Contenders: Jack Drury, Colton, Parker Kelly
- Wild card: Necas
Drury should be the clear favorite here to replace Charlie Coyle, who is off to Columbus. The best-case scenario is Drury, in a contract year, proves he can be a 3C for a contender. Colton and Kelly have played there, and can again as insurance policies. But if it’s not Drury, the 3C for Game 1 in April is probably not on the roster right now …
… unless the Avs gave Necas another shot to play in the middle. That might not be something the player is thrilled with in a contract year, so maybe it’s not even an option.
Third-line wings
- Incumbents: Joel Kiviranta
- Contenders: Colton, Kelly, Olofsson
- Wild card: Zakhar Bardakov
Bednar can sometimes blur the lines (pun intended) between third and fourth, particularly in cases where he just loves the way his fourth line is playing. That trio was Kelly and Logan O’Connor between Drury. LOC is not available in the near future, so his return will shake up the bottom six at some point.
For now, Colton and Drury seem like solid bets for the third line. Does Kiviranta hold onto that third spot? Is that where Olofsson slots in at even strength?
The entire fourth line
- Incumbents: Kelly
- Contenders: Bardakov, Olofsson, Kiviranta,
- Wild card: Ivan Ivan
Let’s assume everyone besides O’Connor is healthy. That really only leaves one spot in the lineup for opening night, because five of the bottom six would be some combination of Drury, Colton, Kelly, Kiviranta and Olofsson.
So, that brings us to Bardakov. The general manager talked him up as an option over the summer. He’s coming to camp, and he’s not planning on spending any extended time in Loveland.
If he looks like an NHL player early in camp, there might not be much drama here. Bardakov may get the first crack at the No. 4 center job, but Kelly could handle it as well if needed. Ivan played 40 games for the Avs last year, but struggled at times to find his game after a demotion to the Eagles.
The Avs may not even need to carry a 13th forward in the early going, especially if they think O’Connor could return relatively soon.
Second defense pairing
- Incumbents: Samuel Girard, Josh Manson
- Contenders: Sam Malinski, Brent Burns
- Wild card: None
There is intrigue about how Bednar will deploy his defensemen, and most of it likely boils down to the second pairing. Could the Avs really tinker with this group, like putting Cale Makar on the left side and one of Malinski or Burns next to him? Sure.
Does anyone really think Makar and Devon Toews aren’t going to play together, outside of some minor tinkering when someone isn’t healthy? Didn’t think so.
So, the big question: Do Girard and Manson stay together, or does one of Malinski or Burns slide in there?
Girard-Burns and Malinski-Manson? Girard-Malinski and Burns-Manson?
Those are probably the two most likely options, and Bednar could try both early on. Don’t be surprised if Bednar tries to find some games for Keaton Middleton as well.
The Avs were quite happy with his development last year, and he does give them a third lefty to balance out the pairs. He will likely play regularly when injuries arise, but he also might get a few games early in the year even if everyone is healthy.
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