The Colorado Avalanche released their 54-player training camp roster (31 forwards, 17 defensemen, and 6 goaltenders). On-ice sessions begin on Thursday, Sept. 18 at Family Sports.
Camp leads directly into preseason, starting with a rare split-squad doubleheader vs. the Utah Mammoth on Sept. 21 (2:30 p.m. at Magness Arena, 6:30 p.m. at Ball Arena).
This year’s camp has a different tone than many around the league. For rebuilding teams like Ottawa, Detroit, or San Jose, half the roster is up for grabs.
In Colorado, the foundation is already in place. The Avalanche are chasing a Stanley Cup, not trying to figure out their identity.
That stability means camp will be about fine-tuning chemistry and sorting out the final depth spots.
The Avalanche Net Is Set
There will be no drama in goal. Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood enter camp as the clear tandem.
Blackwood’s size and athleticism make him the No. 1, while Wedgewood has proven to be a reliable backup who can handle stretches of games.
For the rest of the goalies in camp, the battle is organizational. Trent Miner appears to be next in line should injury strike, and younger prospects will fight for minutes in the AHL. But at the NHL level, there’s no open competition.
Blue Line Picture
The Avalanche’s defensive core remains one of the deepest in hockey. Cale Makar is the centerpiece, with Devon Toews and Samuel Girard providing mobility and puck-moving.
Josh Manson brings size and grit, while Sam Malinski continues to carve out a role. The big offseason addition is Brent Burns, whose experience and presence add another layer to the group.
That leaves one opening: the seventh-defenseman spot. Keaton Middleton, Ronnie Attard, and Sean Behrens are the top contenders.
Middleton played 41 NHL games last season and has the edge in experience.
Attard is looking to solidify himself at the NHL level, while Behrens, coming back from a lost year due to injury, may benefit from major minutes in the AHL before being called up.
With Jacob MacDonald sidelined long-term, the competition narrows. Whoever wins this spot will likely rotate in and out but must be ready to step up when inevitable injuries hit.
Forwards: Top Six Intact, Bottom-Six Competition
Up front, the Avalanche boast one of the strongest top-six units in the league.
Nathan MacKinnon will likely skate alongside Martin Necas and Artturi Lehkonen, while Brock Nelson provides stability down the middle with Gabriel Landeskog returning to full duty and Valeri Nichushkin on his wing.
That group gives Colorado elite firepower.
But not everything is settled. With Logan O’Connor sidelined until midseason, there’s an open spot in the bottom-six.
The internal competition will be fierce. Ivan Ivan, who played 40 games last year, will look to lock down a regular role.
Youngsters Gavin Brindley and Danil Gushchin are pushing hard after strong development camps, and Alex Barré-Boulet provides NHL experience and could slot into a depth scoring role.
These battles may not determine the Avalanche’s status as contenders, but they do matter. Bottom-six consistency, penalty-killing reliability, and secondary scoring depth are often what separates playoff teams from champions.
Bednar’s Camp Focus
For head coach Jared Bednar, this camp is less about surprises and more about sharpening details.
The return of Landeskog is a major storyline, not only for what he brings on the ice but also for his leadership in the locker room. After missing so much time, his reintegration will be closely monitored.
The additions of Necas and Nelson also change the team’s look.
Necas’ playmaking and speed give MacKinnon a new weapon on the wing, while Nelson finally solidifies the second-line center role that has been in flux for several years.
Expect Bednar to use camp to test combinations and ensure those new pieces mesh seamlessly.
Avalanche Preseason Schedule
- Sept. 21 – Split-Squad vs. Utah Mammoth (2:30 p.m. Magness Arena / 6:30 p.m. Ball Arena)
- Sept. 27 – vs. Dallas Stars (home, 5:00 MDT)
- Sept. 30 – vs. Vegas Golden Knights (home, 6:00 MDT)
- Oct. 1 – at Vegas Golden Knights (7:00 MDT)
- Oct. 4 – at Dallas Stars (4:00 MDT)
Final Word: Avalanche Aim for Ultimate Step
The Avalanche don’t have many holes, but camp still matters. The goalies are set, the defense is almost locked, and the top six is elite.
The battles come down to the 7th-defenseman role and bottom-six forward competition while O’Connor heals.
Unlike teams still searching for an identity, Colorado knows who they are: a Stanley Cup contender. Now it’s about getting the details right.
With a healthy Landeskog, new weapons in Necas and Nelson, and one of the best blue lines in the league, the Avalanche enter camp with expectations as high as the Rocky Mountains.
