Discover how the Colorado Avalanche transformed their lineup this season despite a first-round exit from the playoffs.
The Colorado Avalanche performed impressive “roster surgery” during the 2024-25 season. They started the season as a very top-heavy team and entered the playoffs much more balanced. Even though Mikko Rantanen was traded away, Colorado acquired Martin Necas, and team captain Gabriel Landeskog made a surprising return. Despite high expectations, the Avalanche fell in the first round to the Dallas Stars.
Let’s dive into Colorado’s season, brief playoff run, and what’s next for the former Stanley Cup champs.
The 2024-25 Colorado Avalanche
Stats are 5-on-5 and from Natural Stat Trick unless otherwise indicated.
The Colorado Avalanche were an excellent possession team, ranking third overall in Corsi with a 54% shot attempt share. Despite their impressive possession stats, they only ranked eighth with a 52% expected goals share (xG%). The Avs also had an incredible shot attempt rate with 63.3 per 60 minutes. That’s a lot of volume, but the weaker expected goals number indicates their shot quality wasn’t great.
Colorado had an expected goals against rate (2.32 xGA/60) that was about the same as their actual goals against rate (2.31 GA/60). A stellar defense would have had a larger disparity. For example, the Los Angeles Kings had a 2.17 xGA/60 and a 1.86 GA/60. The Avalanche’s team save percentage also ranked 21st in the NHL (.907).
General manager Chris MacFarland’s revamping of the Avalanche’s roster was the biggest story of their season. Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle added center depth after bein acquired in trades. Martin Necas fit right into Colorado’s system, however, trading Mikko Rantanen haunted them later. MacKinnon’s line with Artturi Lehkonen and Necas had a 67.7 xG%, third best in the NHL. Valeri Nichuskin and Jonathan Drouin finished the regular season strong, proving that the Avs were not as shallow as many thought.
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One of the biggest needs for the Avalanche was in net. MacFarland solved that question by acquiring goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 9, 2024. Blackwood posted a .913 SV% and a 2.33 goals against average in his 37 games with Colorado.
An improved roster, two of the world’s best players in MacKinnon and Makar, and a better goaltender, Colorado positioned itself to dominate the postseason.
The 2025 Playoffs
The Colorado Avalanche’s first round against the Dallas Stars felt more like a conference final. Two of the best teams in the West facing off in the first round, and former Colorado superstar Mikko Rantanen taking on Nathan MacKinnon. It was a series that promised excitement, and it delivered. Just not in Colorado’s favor.
The Stars took the Avalanche to Game Seven, where Mikko Rantanen finally broke through and scored a hat-trick and an assist. Colorado almost secured the first round; they held a 2-0 lead with 12 minutes left in the third. The Avs were the better possession team during the series with a 59% Corsi, a 58 xG%, and scoring 54% of the series goals. They also had an incredible morale boost.
The biggest story for the Avalanche in the playoffs wasn’t their new, overhauled roster; it was the return of their captain, Gabriel Landeskog. After three years away from the game, Landeskog returned in Game Three against the Stars. And he looked good. The Avs owned 64% of shot attempts when he was on the ice.
To increase the odds in Colorado’s favor, the Stars’ No. 1 defenseman, Miro Heiskanen, and their best winger, Jason Robertson, were out with injuries. And they still couldn’t beat Dallas and began their offseason much earlier than hoped.
The Offseason And Beyond
Head coach Jared Bednar and Chris MacFarland were both not going anywhere. They have work to do, and Colorado is far from finished being one of the best teams in the West.
Brock Nelson signed on for three years and $7.5 million. I don’t see Nelson as the 2C the Avalanche need, and although he could be an excellent 3C, that’s a lot of money to eat. But let’s not forget that Landeskog only appeared during Game Three. His presence will be a huge benefit to the Avalanche’s offense next season. With Charlie Coyle and Jonathan Drouin both not returning, the Avs do lose a little depth in their forward core.
The Avalanche also brought on Brent Burns for their blueline with Ryan Lindgren walking into free agency. Burns is an improvement to Colorado’s second pair.
The Avalanche are still an excellent team. A first round that felt like a conference final isn’t fair to the perception around the Avalanche. But still, after their dominance in 2022, I thought the Avs were going to be the next Chicago Blackhawks of the 2010s. Their defense needs to be better, and I’m not too confident in their centers beyond the first line. The situation in Colorado isn’t as pressing as their other neighbors in the Central Division (the Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars), but if this season doesn’t look good for Colorado, that narrative will change and people will start asking questions.
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