Regular Season Finish: 15th in Western Conference
Since making the move from Quebec to Colorado, the Avalanche have been one of the most consistent teams in the NHL, winning two Stanley Cups and making regular visits to the postseason. In 2008-09, however, Avs fans got more than a small dose of what losing tastes like, as their team struggled all the way through the season, plagued by injuries and poor goaltending. Next season doesn’t look much better, as the main story of the 2009 offseason in Colorado was the retirement of longtime captain and face of the franchise Joe Sakic.
Sakic has been one of the classiest players in NHL history, and was captain of the Nordiques/Avalanche since 1992, serving as co-captain in ’90-91. Veteran winger Ryan Smyth was traded to Los Angeles, and the Avalanche’ main offensive acquisition was 3rd overall pick Matt Duchene. Duchene, who grew up cheering for Colorado, has the potential to be the new Sakic, with a great skillset and the personality to match. However, at the moment, Colorado simply does not have the pieces to be a competitive franchise, and will need to go into rebuilding mode.
Craig Anderson was signed in an attempt to fill some of the holes that were clearly evident in net for Colorado, while part-time netminder Andrew Raycroft was left unsigned and eventually signed a minimum wage deal with Vancouver. Colorado also bolstered their defense through the Smyth trade, adding Tom Preissing and Kyle Quincey, but neither player is going to be the shutdown specialist that Colorado needs to repair a defense that gave up the most goals in the NHL last season.