After a 112-point season in 2013-2014, the Colorado Avalanche crashed to 90 points last season, finishing in last place in the competitive Central Division. The fall was widely predicted because of Colorado’s subpar possession numbers.

Those numbers got even worse last season and that stands as the primary challenge facing the Avalanche in 2015-2016. If they hold out hope for a return to the postseason, then the Avs can’t continue to get buried in their own end of the rink.

Improving became all the more daunting when the Avalanche traded away Ryan O’Reilly, the versatile forward who played in all situations. Colorado invested in free agents, including centre Carl Soderberg, winger Blake Comeau and defenceman Francois Beauchemin, and while those players may help, Colorado’s best chance for success this year is going to be hinged on the performance of their own homegrown stars.

Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon are highly-skilled offensive threats and Gabriel Landeskog is a terrific all-around player. Mix in veterans Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla and the Avs should be able to score.

The addition of Beauchemin ought to lift the blueline, but the depth behind Erik Johnson and Tyson Barrie remains suspect. The trouble that Colorado experiences in their own end has greater implications, as it prevents them from turning loose their skilled forwards in the offensive zone.

When the Avalanche reached the 2014 playoffs, a lot of their success was tied to the sensational play of goaltender Semyon Varlamov. As it looks right now, Colorado might need another spectacular season from Varlamov if they are going to be a playoff team once again.

 

OFF-SEASON HEADLINES

June 26: Avs sign Soderberg to five-year contract

June 26: Avalanche trade O’Reilly to Sabres

July 1: D Beauchemin signs three-year deal with Avs

 

2015-16 COLORADO AVALANCHE

* Off-season Addition

 

Projected Lines

LW C RW
Jarome Iginla Matt Duchene Alex Tanguay
Gabriel Landeskog Carl Soderberg* Nathan MacKinnon
Mikhail Grigorenko* John Mitchell Blake Comeau*
Cody McLeod Jesse Winchester Patrick Bordeleau
  Marc-Andre Cliché  

Fighting For Jobs: LW Dennis Everberg, RW Jack Skille (PTO), RW Mikko Rantanen, RW Borna Rendulic

 

Projected Pairs

LD RD
Francois Beauchemin* Eric Johnson
Nikita Zadorov* Tyson Barrie
Brad Stuart Zach Redmond
Nick Holden Nate Guenin

Fighting For Jobs: LD Chris Bigras, LD Brandon Gormley, LD Andrej Meszaros (PTO), LD Duncan Siemens

 

Projected Goalies

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
Semyon Varlamov Calvin Pickard Reto Berra

Off-season Departures: C Ryan O'Reilly, LW Jamie McGinn, RW Jordan Caron

Projected Lineup: Mike Chambers/Denver Post

 

 

SERAVALLI'S THREE QUESTIONS

1. Is No. 10 overall pick Mikko Rantanen destined for NHL, AHL or Europe?

2. Will backup goaltender Reto Berra be bought out or sent to AHL?

3. Will the Avalanche start with seven or eight defencemen?

 

 

BUTTON'S TOP PROSPECTS

Top 2015-16 Prospect

RW Mikko Rantanen (TPS Turku, SM-liiga): Mature, smart and determined. Fits on a team that compliments his attributes and skill set.

Long-Term Prospect

C Connor Bleackley (Red Deer, WHL): Competitive, hard nosed center who has improved his quickness and overall pace of play.

* Listed with 2014-15 teams

 

 

BY THE NUMBERS

 

THREE-YEAR BREAKDOWN (LEAGUE RANK)

  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Points 67 (29th) 112 (3rd) 90 (21st)
Goals For 2.4 (26th) 3.0 (4th) 2.6 (23rd)
Goals Against 3.1 (27th) 2.6 (T-14th) 2.7 (21st)
Power Play 15% (24th) 20% (T-5th) 15% (29th)
Penalty Killing 80% (20th) 81% (T-23rd) 85% (5th)
SAT% Possession 49% (19th) 47% (25th) 43% (29th)

* 2012-13 points: Pro-rated lockout-shortened total

 

ESTIMATED PAYROLL vs. CAP - $61.5M/$71.4M

Colorado isn’t a cap team, and after trading Ryan O’Reilly there is little upward pressure. At season’s end, Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie will be restricted free agents, so they will need new deals, but maintaining a tight internal cap makes it easy to stay well below the league-mandated cap.

 

PARTING SHOT