Having been eliminated from the Western Conference Finals by the Vegas Golden Knights, the Colorado Avalanche will be expected to perform well. The team, along with select players, faces considerable expectations. High expectations have always surrounded head coach Jared Bednar since the Avalanche’s 47-point turnaround in 2017–18. We investigate which team members hold the greatest expectations for the Avalanche’s 2026–27 campaign.

The power play

The Avalanche’s power play last season left a lot to be desired. They finished the season ranked 27th in the NHL, sitting at 17.11 percent. This was well below the league average of 21.11 percent, and it cost the Avs games in the playoffs. Assistant coach Dave Hakstol, whom they brought in last summer to fix the power play, just made it worse. The Avs led the even-strength goals, but it couldn’t win the Conference for them.


Colorado will need to take advantage of its loaded top-six and convert more on the power play. Now that they have a season with Hakstol behind them, chemistry should be there to start. Nazem Kadri could help provide a boost to the top unit, much like he did at the end of the season. With the amount of firepower on the team, the Avs should finish well over 20 percent.

Mackenzie Blackwood

Mackenzie Blackwood may have the most to prove of any player on the Avalanche. Last season he did not take part in training camp because of an injury. He missed the start of the season, beginning his campaign poorly. It led to Trent Miner acting as the backup and losing starts in Loveland as well. But it also led to Scott Wedgewood having the best season of career. Although Blackwood had just as many starts for the Avs last season as he did the year before, some of his stats were worse. He had a lower save percentage and a higher goals-allowed average, but had one more win.


Fans should expect Blackwood to enter the season aiming to win back the crease. Assuming Blackwood is healthy coming into camp, it will help him start strongly for the regular season. Of any player on the roster, Blackwood may have the most to prove by winning the starting spot.

Parker Kelly

Parker Kelly may have the most to prove and the highest expectations as a skater. Last summer the Avs signed Kelly to an extension that will kick in this season. His $1.7 million per year now looks like a bargain after a career-high 21 goals last season. His previous high had been eight in the previous two seasons. We have to ask, though: Will last season be a one-off? That is why he has so much to prove. Kelly needs to show that he can continue his goal-scoring pace he had last season. If he can, Kelly can help catapult the bottom-six to more goals and higher chances.

We could go further into every player or situation for the Avalanche, but these three are the top for the moment. Every player will have some expectations set by fans, but they may differ from they expect from themselves. If the Avalanche can improve on the power play and get to the Stanley Cup Finals, that should make everyone happy.