General manager Chris MacFarland and his staff have an incredible core of homegrown players to build around, but the Colorado Avalanche has also needed to look externally to fill significant needs.
Colorado Avalanche center Casey Mittelstadt , Zach Parise , Samuel Girard and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson celebrate Zach Parise’s goal against the Winnipeg Jets in the first period during game three of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, April 26, 2024. Nearly everyone who joins the Colorado Avalanche from another NHL organization has their own story about when they learned that this place was different.
Manson came from an organization that had lots of recent success. Mittelstadt came from one that hasn’t reached the playoffs in 13 years. “In the room, we do a good job of incorporating those guys and helping them understand what it takes to win here. They all come from different environments, but getting them to buy into what we’re trying to do here is something we’ve had success with.”It’s easy to look at the top of the Colorado roster and say anyone could win big when the team starts with MacKinnon, Makar and Mikko Rantanen. They are an incredible foundation.
Colorado Avalanche left wing Jonathan Drouin skates the puck up ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first period at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, March 22, 2024. . Miles Wood went from never playing on the penalty kill in New Jersey to a key part of Colorado’s PK. Ross Colton had played some center with Tampa Bay, but he’s a fixture as the Avs’ 3C.
Both were squeezed out at their previous homes in part because those clubs didn’t think they could afford to keep them on long-term contracts . Nichushkin has scored 25-plus goals twice for Colorado, and has 17 in 27 playoff games. Drouin scored 19 and had a career-high 56 points this year, but the defensive strides he made were a huge part of his story.
Not all of the newcomers in recent years have been obvious fits, though. Drouin and Wood have improved facets of their game to earn Bednar’s trust. “You hear the stories about the guys riding the bikes and stuff, but I think it’s just how hard the leaders on this team work,” Walker said. “Nate goes and scores his 50th goal and immediately after the game he’s on the bike. It’s impressive to see their work ethic day in, day out.”Keeler: Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen is mad. Yo, Dallas Stars? In Colorado, last thing you want to do is make a Moose mad.Colorado Avalanche vs.
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