Team Preview: Colorado Avalanche

2010-2011: 68 points, 14th in Western Conference
Key additions: G Semyon Varlamov, G Jean-Sebastien Giguere, D Jan Hejda, D Sean O'Brien, LW Chuck Kobasew
Key departures: D Adam Foote, D Jean-Michael Liles, RW Tomas Fleischmann

The Avs expected big things from Landeskog (above) in 2012.

Why they'll contend: The big story in Colorado over the summer was their improved goaltending and the team will look to ride it back into the post-season in 2012. Varlamov will benefit from a fresh beginning as a number one, after the 23-year-old was acquired from Washington early in the summer. Giguere will be a reliable back-up and the two will likely come closer to splitting time than one carrying the bulk over the other. Matt Duchene is poised for a breakout season and the addition of Chuck Kobasew will give the Avalanche some much-needed penalty killing help. The Avs penalty kill finished last in the NHL last year at 76.1%, something that will undoubtedly be improved with better goaltending and the addition of Hejda, who averaged 2:50 in shorthanded ice time last year in Columbus. The Avs will be exciting and young to watch and if, in an absolute best-case scenario, the pieces fall into place they could be looking at snagging the 8th seed. Gabriel Landeskog, the team's 2nd overall draft choice in 2011, could crack the roster and add dynamic play-making abilities as well as a committed two-way game. The Avs may be a step away, but they are certainly taking the right steps forward.

Why they'll falter: The Avs are still a young team, perhaps a year or two from competing. There were a lot of probems in Colorado last year that saw them finish 29 points out of the playoffs; problems that cannot be rectified over night or through free agency. The goaltending was addressed, as were parts of the defense, but losing Liles and Foote will be difficult to overcome regardless of how well O'Brien and Hejda play. But for a team with defensive woes that Colorado had last season, including the worst penalty kill and allowing the most goals in the NHL--25 more than the next closest team in Atlanta--the Avalanche will have their work cut out for them in 2012. While there are enough individual pieces to make Colorado an intriguing team to watch in 2012, they are still a few steps away from being the contender they envision.

2012 prediction: 12th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Paul Stastny, 25 G & 70 points
Bold prediction: Gabriel Landeskog wins the Calder Memorial Trophy.

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