The Colorado Avalanche are gearing up for the 2025-26 NHL season with a nearly fully healthy roster. They will open the season against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. This matchup marks an important milestone for many players returning from injury.
Key Player Returns
- Captain Gabriel Landeskog returns for his first regular-season game since March 10, 2022.
- Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin, who missed the beginning of the previous season, will also suit up.
This season, the Avalanche will have 78 goals, 60 assists, and 138 points in their lineup that weren’t present in October 2024. “We’re relatively healthy,” Landeskog noted. “And I think that’s huge to start the year off.”
Stable Roster and New Additions
The Avalanche’s roster remains largely intact from the end of the last season. Brock Nelson signed a three-year extension on June 4, while Joel Kiviranta inked a one-year contract on August 8. Additionally, mid-season acquisitions Martin Necas, Jack Drury, and Scott Wedgewood participated in their first training camp with the team.
This stability leads to fewer uncertainties compared to last year. “With Gabe back, it’s nice not to have any more uncertainty around our whole team,” said star player Nathan MacKinnon.
Coach’s Perspective
Head Coach Jared Bednar expressed confidence in the team’s depth this season. “We feel like we’re a deep team right now and starting healthier than we have in the past few years,” he stated. This depth is reminiscent of the 2021-22 squad that secured the franchise’s third Stanley Cup.
Upcoming Challenges
Despite their overall health, the Avalanche will be without goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood and forward Logan O’Connor for the season opener against the Kings as both players are recovering from injuries. Devon Toews highlighted the advantages of roster stability during training camp. “We can get down to the nitty-gritty a lot quicker,” he said, referring to their performance without needing to bring additional players into the system.
After a difficult 0-4-0 start to the 2024-25 season, the Avalanche aim to kick off the 2025-26 season on a stronger note. “I think we’re a very hungry group,” Landeskog mentioned. “Probably as motivated and as excited as we’ve been in a long time. And that’s a good way to start the season.”
