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New York Rangers rivals: Colorado Avalanche season preview

By Andrew Steele-Davis

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 4: Ian Cole #28 of the Colorado Avalanche fights for position against Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers at the Pepsi Center on January 4, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Rangers 6-1. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 4: Ian Cole #28 of the Colorado Avalanche fights for position against Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers at the Pepsi Center on January 4, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Rangers 6-1. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, COLORADO – OCTOBER 10: Nazem Kadri #91 of the Colorado Avalanche sets up a shot on goal against the Boston Bruins in the second period at the Pepsi Center on October 10, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – OCTOBER 10: Nazem Kadri #91 of the Colorado Avalanche sets up a shot on goal against the Boston Bruins in the second period at the Pepsi Center on October 10, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Arrivals

After making the Second Round of the Western Conference Playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche decided to retool their roster for the better with the aim of preparing this team for another sustained run.

Let’s start with the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The Avs potentially had the strongest draft of any team, picking the best defenseman in the draft in Bowen Byram with the No. 4 overall pick.

They then bolstered their pipeline significantly by selecting center Alex Newhook with the No. 12 overall pick, and they made a further six selections to cap off what was an incredibly strong draft for the franchise.

And the Avs also utilized both the trade and the free agency markets to strengthen their roster, trading for defenseman Kevin Connauton from the Arizona Coyotes for forward Carl Soderberg and a Third Round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, though he starting the season in the AHL.

They also traded for forward Andre Burakovsky from the Washington Capitals, before beefing up their depth at the center ice position by trading for Nazem Kadri from the Toronto Maple Leafs with Tyson Barrie and Alex Kerfoot going in the opposite direction.

Forward Joonas Donskoi signed a four-year deal in free agency after leaving the San Jose Sharks, while veteran center and faceoff specialist Pierre-Edouard Bellemare also agreed terms on a two-year contract.

Depth players Colin Wilson, Jayson Megna, Dan Renouf, T.J. Tynan all signed short-term deals and defensemen Nikita Zadorov and Ryan Graves were re-signed to one-year contracts.

Forward Valeri Nichushkin was signed to a one-year deal in free agency, while talented blueliner Samuel Girard was locked down to a seven-year deal, worth an average annual value of $5,000,000.

Young stud Bowen Byram was signed to a three-year entry-level contract and the Avalanche capped off a busy off-season by signing right wing JT Compher to a four-year deal, and left wing Andre Burakovsky to a one-year contract.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 25: Bowen Byram #45 of the Colorado Avalanche skates with the puck against Cody Glass #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the second period of their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 25, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 25: Bowen Byram #45 of the Colorado Avalanche skates with the puck against Cody Glass #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the second period of their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 25, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Departures

The Avalanche opted to part company with offensive defenseman Tyson Barrie and bottom six forward Alex Kerfoot in order to acquire Nazem Kadri from the Toronto Maple Leafs in what one of the most signficant trades of the summer.

Forward Carl Soderberg was traded to the Coyotes for defenseman Kevin Connauton, goalie Semyon Varlamov hit free agency and then signed with the New York Islanders, defenseman Patrik Nemeth also tested free agency as did Derick Brassard.

Those were the only notable departures for the Avalanche with a host of depth players also departing the franchise in free agency.

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