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2023 Central Division Preview Series: Colorado Avalanche

By Brian Sweet |
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: Calum Ritchie is selected by the Colorado Avalanche with the 27th overall pick during round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: Calum Ritchie is selected by the Colorado Avalanche with the 27th overall pick during round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

We wrap up our Central Division Preview Series today talking about the team that came away with the Central Division title, Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche passed the Stars right at the end of the season to take the Central Division title. It stung as the Stars played so well throughout the season to hold the division lead for a huge part of the season.

However, the Avalanche got some bad news right after their season was over. Captain Gabriel Landeskog announced that he will miss the entire 2023-24 season after having surgery on his knee.

That was a devastating blow to not just the team chemistry but to the entire offense as well. I hope that he is able to play hockey again because he is a gentleman and a scholar of the game. Let’s take a look at what the Colorado Avalanche did this offseason in order to defend the Central Division title.

Colorado Avalanche Preview: Key losses

Gabriel Landeskog

J.T. Compher

Evan Rodrigues

Alex Newhook

Darren Helm

Lars Eller

Matt Nieto

Erik Johnson

Colorado Avalanche Preview: Key signings

Jonathan Drouin

Miles Wood

Andrew Cogliano

Colorado Avalanche Preview: Assessment

The Avalanche took a hit this offseason with all the players that left during the opening hours of free agency. They will rely on players like Cogliano and Drouin to help lead this Avalanche squad this season as veterans. Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar will also help out by providing some offense. They will be competing to repeat as Central Division Champions so Stars’ fans shouldn’t count them out because they lost a bunch of players.

Colorado Avalanche Preview: 2023/24 prediction 3rd place

I think that the Stars and the Wild did enough this offseason that they will finish first and second respectively. Losing Landeskog will hurt them this season even though they won the Central without him last season. However, if either the Stars or the Wild slip up this season, the Avalanche will be right there to pass them at the top of the division. You can expect a close divisional race between the Stars Wild and Avlanche again this upcoming season.

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