0:00 Colorado Avalanche News
1:33 The Avalanche becoming terrifying
The NHL was terrified this would happen as the Colorado Avalanche have been dominating since the NHL Trade deadline after picking up Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle as key pieces in Nathan Mackinnon, Cale Makar and Martin Necas continue to tear apart of the league. Mark Pye and Darius Domingues break down all this and more on this episode of Hat Trick HQ.
31 Comments
I am a longtime avalanche fan which is why i hope they make much better decisions with blackwood than they did with georgiev! Playing your starting goaltender in your first 8 games of the season giving him 1 game rest and putting him in against the defending Stanley cup champions the next game is not a smart choice at all!
Imagine Gabe playing in the playoffs 😮
Conor McDavid is no longer the consensus best player in the NHL; perhaps not even the best on his own team.
No, we can not ALL agree that McDavid is the best player. Everyone has their own opinion, and they are two completely different playing styles. I would take a dog like Nate any day over McDavid. I want that fire and that passion on my team.
Hahaha, calm down. You beat Chicago, San Jose, Pittsburgh, and lost to the Wild and had one good period against the Leaf chokers.
Maybe beat some good teams and then you can say you’re “dominant”
Didnt they just lose to a division rival? Storming through the toilet bowl teams, sure. Dont get ahead of yourselves
I'm really excited to see how they preform this off season. I like alot of the changes and getting EJ back is such a moral booster for the fans and team. I think that 6 game win streak was only the start. People might look at that game against the wild and write them off, but there is a reason Gustavsson got first star of that game and its because he played out of his mind. I think most people can agree who actually watched that game that the Avs where overall playing better than the Wild.
that 4th line you guys have @ 4:40 isn't optimal. Wood should definitely NOT be in the playoff lineup, swap wood with Logan Oconner and Swap Vesey with Parker Kelly. Also malinksi should be in the 3rd D pairing IMO
Connor McDavid WAS* the best player IMO, the last 2 seasons Mack has been better
MacK been best player for 2 years, he was also part of the best duo of the last couple years. FO finally fixed goal tending and traded one of their most valuable playoff contributors lol
This is the first season since 2022 that it feels like the Avs have a real chance at the SCF. Wedgewood & Blackwood were not only needed in the net, but they were an immediate morale boost for both the team and the fans. Not gonna lie – initially the Mikko trade felt like a bit of a sucker punch, but Necas and Drury brought in some fresh blood which we desperately needed. Nathan and Mikko had a great shorthand after playing together for so long, but it felt stale – going through the motions – at times. Marty can keep up with Nate speed-wise, and he and Drury coming in from a completely different system has made our playing less predictable and better, which was also needed, since so much of the team has been together for years. They’ve also helped – a little! – our guys to shoot the dang puck instead of passing it 47 times before doing so and giving the other team’s D forever to get in perfect position to block the eventual shot. Vesey and Lindgren from NJD have kind of slipped in under the radar, but they’ve both already made space for themselves on the team. I think we got really lucky at the deadline with Charlie Coyle and Brock Nelson; the chemistry between Brock and Val was crazy during their first game together and I can’t wait to see what happens after they’ve had more time to work on it. And then bringing EJ back home was like a reward for the fans just as much as it was for the Avs. He’s beloved in Denver and it feels like even after all the changes that have been made this season, having Erik Johnson back put this little buzz in the air that hasn’t been here for several years. Can we win the cup again? I’m looking forward to finding out.
MCcupless isn't the best player
Dude the avs are looking good now man. I'm so happy it's been rough the start. Hopefully we get a good run but we always seem to either win it or don't make it to the WCF. That second line is holy shit man.
Mack is the MVP again. Best player in hockey
i’m a Colorado native and I’ve been an Avalanche fan since the day they moved here from Quebec and this is one of the most exciting years since that day.. 🔥
3:21 “nucular”
If they can get a cup this postseason and extend Nelson, this team could be poised for multiple runs. 7mil increase to the cap and we need to extend Drouin, Kiviranta, and wedgewood. Lindgren and Vesey likely walk but we will see. That is a scary team for a few years
Avs moved to Denver from Quebec City summer, 1995. The Patrick Roy trade came December, '95. Some GREAT team with Super Joe, 'Peter the Great' (Foppa), Kamensky, Deadmarsh, Lemieux, Young, Ricci, Keane, Yelle, Ozolinsh, Foote, Krupp, Gusarov, Lefebvre — and of course "the man between the pipes," Number 33. Watched 4 Playoff games at McNichols Arena in 1996 — wins over Canucks (OT), Hawks, Wings & Panthers. What an incredible dream season for a franchise that had struggled mightily in Quebec for nearly 20 years.
Go AVS GO
Honestly, McDavid WAS the best at one time… But that was then. MacKinnon is NOW!
I think bringing back Erik Johnson is the front office's way of telling the team "this is it. We've given you all the tools you need to win it all again this year, so let's go out and give EJ his 16W."
Glad to see people disagreeing with the statement the McDavid is the best player. He has some of the best situation-specific skills. But Mac is absolutely a better hockey player. I think most teams would take Mac over McDavid given the choice.
MacKinnon has gone "nucular"?
McDavid found his legs faster, but he is no longer the undisputed best in the league. Mackinnon is flat out better right now. It was on full display at the 4 nations tourney. Mackinnon was the best player on the ice each game.
MacK should be the MVP this season!!!! #FullStop McMuffin can’t compete with the Nate Dog!!! #Fact
MacKinnon IS the best player in the world today and it’s literally known and acknowledged league-wide. McDavid SOLELY hit his prime earlier than MacKinnon. That’s it. But ONCE MacKinnon hit his peak, he passed McDavid up and left him in the review. Period…. McDavid isn’t even the best player on his own damn team; Draisaitl is. That is a fact. McDavid’s stats are blatantly inflated BECAUSE of Draisaitl. He puts up the points numbers he does because Draisaitl scores 40-50 goals almost every year. He’s went for 50 3 separate times. MacKinnon does not HAVE 2 different 50 goal scorers to dish to and inflate his numbers like McDavid does; MacKinnon IS their 50 goal scorer. He’s their main goal scorer and their facilitator altogether. That is why he’s the best player on earth today; plus he’s the fastest skater in the NHL. Yes, faster than McDavid. That’s been proven. MacKinnon has been the best player on earth since they won the cup. He was blatantly robbed of the Conn Smythe so they could hype up Makar and give him accolades MacKinnon has won and earned, like say, making him the cover athlete of NHL 24, so MacKinnon goes out and gets 50 goals and 90 assists and wins the Hart and the Ted Lindsay. They try to force Makar into superstardom instead of taking care of the best player on earth. It’s stupid. They won’t even make him the captain when he should’ve been YEARS ago and instead keep it on a dude that hasn’t played in 3 fuckin years. MacKinnon does not get inflated and catered to like McDavid (and Makar too) does, and he’s STILL outshining him. Like I said, if you ask pretty much any actual player and coach/front office man around the league who the best player on earth is, 80% of them will say Nate MacKinnon. It’s known league-wide. Nobody gives a shit what the McMedia tries to push.
Mackinnon has simply been better the last couple seasons. I don't get why mcdavid continues to be "the best" he just isn't
This team has a real shot at winning it all, if they stay healthy. They are deep and talented. They still are without a captain though and that could hurt in a deep run
My teams are: Colorado & San Jose.
Pretty sure the Avs are the favorites for the next few seasons.
There are other top teams, so this isn't a given, but I like Colorado's chances vs anyone.
And then the Sharks take that role, once their prospects start to come into their own.
Again there are other rising teams, but I think the Sharks have the best combination of current and upcoming players, if you're looking at 3-5 years from now.
Hell Yeah! #GOAVSGO Oh, and NateDog is the best!
I absolutely believe in the Avalanche. Have been since the came to Denver in 1995.