The upcoming 2023-24 season will be yet another where the Avalanche are expected to be among the league’s contenders. Even without captain Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado has the weapons to make another long playoff run. As the captain skates ramp up and the offseason winds down, it’s time to have some fun.
With that, let’s predict the future with one specific prediction for each member of the Avs, starting with the forwards. The list includes 27-year-old Fredrik Olofsson, who was a part of the Dallas Stars last year. But it doesn’t include any of the late-season College free agents who haven’t made their NHL debuts yet. I also left out Colorado Eagles mainstays like Jean-Luc Foudy and Oscar Olausson.
Even with the inclusion of Ben Meyers and Olofsson, Colorado only has 12 NHL forwards. Obviously, guys like Ondrej Pavel, Foudy, or even Olausson could take that step. But regardless, it still feels like another signing or two will come before opening night. Even if it’s one of the two forwards who signed a training camp PTO.
Let’s give this a shot. (Predictions are fun)
Andrew Cogliano
The upcoming 2023-24 season will be the last of Cogliano’s career. The veteran of 1219 regular-season games was able to have one of his more productive years in recent memory, scoring 10 goals and 19 points in 79 games. Father time is undefeated, and Cogliano, who has put his body through the rigors, will likely hang ’em up after this season.
Ross Colton
One of the Avs’ big offseason acquisitions will end up playing a bigger role than the third-line center he’s expected to be. Colorado’s pro scouts are among the best in the NHL. Over the past four years, they’ve targeted guys like Andre Burakovsky, Artturi Lehkonen, Devon Toews, Joonas Donskoi, and Valeri Nichushkin — among others — who have all taken a huge step with the Avalanche. Colton will be the next to join that list.
Jonathan Drouin
The 2013 No. 3 overall draft pick will storm out of the gate playing alongside former major juniors teammate Nathan MacKinnon. And we’re talking point-per-game through the first 15 games of the season. His production will eventually regress, and he’ll end the year around 45-50 points. But the kids got a lot to play for and being reunited with one of the NHL’s best superstars will give him a kick in the rear.
Ryan Johansen
The team’s new No. 2 center will have an underwhelming regular season before proving his worth in the playoffs. Johansen will finish the regular season with fewer points than Colton before throwing it back to the 2017 version of himself in the playoffs. That was the year Johansen arguably could’ve led Nashville to a Stanley Cup championship had he not suffered a season-ending injury before the end of the Western Conference finals.
Artturi Lehkonen
Colorado’s utility forward will reach the 82-game mark in the regular season for the first time since 2018-19. Lehkonen missed 18 games last year, most of which came after he broke his finger in his return to Montreal.
Nathan MacKinnon
In the first year of his monster eight-year, $100.8 million contract, the Avs’ top center will once again have a career-best offensive season. MacKinnon had a whopping 111 points last year despite missing 11 games. Expect him to blow past that number in 2023-24.
Ben Meyers
After showing signs of development late in 2022-23, Meyers will be one of the Avs’ top-12 forwards. The 24-year-old, who is coming off a 39-game regular season, will win the fourth-line center role in camp and be in the lineup every game he’s available for.
Valeri Nichushkin
Entering his fifth season with the club, Nichushkin will reach the 70-game mark for the first time with the Avs. The last two years have been the best of his career despite missing a combined 49 regular-season games due to injury. He missed just six games in 2019-20 and 2021 — both COVID-shortened regular seasons.
Logan O’Connor
O’Connor will start the season among the Avs’ top-9 forwards. But whether it’s a late offseason addition, a trade deadline acquisition, or the development of another forward, he’ll eventually slot in as the RW on the fourth line, the same position he played when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup 15 months ago.
Fredrik Olofsson
I am so sorry for even thinking of this… Olofsson will find himself among the top-6 at some point because of injuries. Even if just for a game.
Mikko Rantanen
55 goals a season ago was pretty crazy. Can Rantanen do it again? Unlikely. But he’ll reach the 50-goal mark for the second year in a row.
Miles Wood
Maybe it’s because I’ve reached the end of the list, or maybe it’s the game he plays. But someone is bound to have a tough year health-wise. Wood will miss the most games as a result of multiple injuries.
