The 2024-25 season for the Colorado Avalanche opens on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. It’s time to meet the team, which is full of familiar faces as well as some new ones.

Goaltenders

40 Alexandar Georgiev

Age: 28 | 6-1 | 178 pounds

Which version of Georgiev will the Avalanche get in the final year of his contract? Tremendous first year, subpar second, and a lot on the line in his third. He is very talented and extremely athletic, but is he the goalie capable of backstopping this team to a Stanley Cup? We’ll learn a lot about him this season.

60 Justus Annunen

Age: 24 | 6-4 | 210 pounds

He was very strong down the stretch last year in the NHL (.928 save percentage), and at just 24, has a chance to cement himself as the goalie of the future in Colorado. If he plays well, he may be able to limit Georgiev’s workload and create a more even split in net. Maybe he’s capable of stealing the starting job for himself.

Defensemen

8 Cale Makar

Age: 25 | 6-0 | 187 pounds

Still the best defenseman in the world but took a bit of a step back defensively last season. He put up a career high 90 points on the other end of the ice. No other blueliner in the league possesses his combination of speed and skill. At 25, he’s already got a Hall of Fame resume. Could a 100-point season be in his future?

7 Devon Toews

Age: 30 | 6-1 | 191 pounds

As smart as they come and has arguably the best defensive stick in the league. One of the leaders on the team and not afraid to tell it like it is. Don’t be surprised if Toews and Makar spend some time apart this season.

49 Sam Girard

Age: 26 | 5-10 | 170 pounds

Undersized but coming off his most consistent season defensively in the NHL. The coaching staff has a lot of trust in his ability to play well in all situations, and he’ll be leaned on again this season.

42 Josh Manson

Age: 33 | 6-3 | 218 pounds

Provides something on the blueline that no one else on the team has and that’s some snarl. Played more games last season than he has in five years. Can he stay healthy like that again?

70 Sam Malinski

Age: 26 | 5-11 | 190 pounds

Came to training camp ready to go and earned a spot in the opening night lineup with a terrific preseason performance. Undersized but quick and very smooth with the puck. Looks like he’s added a fair bit of muscle over the summer.

44 Calvin de Haan

Age: 33 | 6-1| 192 pounds

Injuries have long been the story of de Haan’s career, as he hasn’t played a full 82 game season since 2016-17. When healthy, he’s a steady veteran presence on the backend who will see plenty of time on the penalty kill.

3 John Ludvig

Age: 24 | 6-1 | 210 pounds

Brought in to provide a physical element to the defense. Doesn’t have a ton of NHL experience but could see time against bigger teams this season.

58 Oliver Kylington

Age: 27 | 6-0 | 183 pounds

A tough preseason for the smooth skating defenseman. Hasn’t played a lot of hockey over the last two years (just 33 NHL games) so Avalanche may give him some time to adjust.

Forwards

29 Nathan MacKinnon

Age: 29 | 6-0 | 200 pounds

Is it possible for him to repeat what he did in 2023-24? With the missing bodies to start the year, Avalanche may have to rely on MacKinnon to carry the forward group until the cavalry returns. At this point, he’s considered the second-best player in the world, and the ones that don’t have him second might have him first.

96 Mikko Rantanen

Age: 27 | 6-4 | 215 pounds

As talented as they come and entering the final year of his contract. It’s very difficult to find players with his combination of size and skill at the NHL level. Has a chance to become the most productive Finnish player in NHL history by the time his career is finished. The question on everyone’s mind – will his entire career be spent in Colorado?

27 Jonathan Drouin

Age: 29 | 5-11 | 198 pounds

One of the best stories in the NHL last season. Came to camp ready to work and by the end of the year, looked like the guy who was drafted third overall back in 2013. Expectations are now higher for him in his second season with the team. Earned a lot of trust from the coaching staff with his all-around growth as a player last season.

62 Artturi Lehkonen

Age: 29 | 5-11 | 179 pounds

If coach Jared Bednar could build his perfect player, it might be Lehkonen. Can be trusted in all situations because of his compete level and high hockey-IQ. Likely to miss at least the first month of the season, and his absence will be noticeable at both ends of the ice.

37 Casey Mittelstadt

Age: 25 | 6-1 | 195 pounds

The Avalanche have their first true 2C since losing Nazem Kadri in free agency. Extremely talented, very smart, and sneaky good along the boards. Might have to carry the second line by himself until some wingers return to the lineup but he’s very good at creating space for his teammates.

25 Logan O’Connor

Age: 28 | 6-0 | 175 pounds

The team desperately missed him down the stretch and, in the playoffs, last year. The best season of his NHL career (13 goals) was cut short due to hip surgery, but he hasn’t missed a beat in training camp. Expect him on the ice first for every penalty kill. He was the heartbeat of the “Roaring 20’s” line from last season.

20 Ross Colton

Age: 28 | 6-0 | 194 pounds

Set career highs in points (40) and assists (23) last year in his first season playing center full-time at the NHL level. Avalanche may give him more defensive responsibilities this season to see if he can handle it.

28 Miles Wood

Age: 29 | 6-2 | 195 pounds

The offense dried up down the stretch of the regular season last year, but he scored some big goals in the postseason, including the overtime winner in game one versus Dallas. One of the few forwards on the roster with some size and physicality. Could be a key part of the penalty kill with the retirement of Andrew Cogliano.

17 Parker Kelly

Age: 25 | 6-1 | 185 pounds

His game is straightforward. Not a lot of finesse but a hard-worker and willing to throw his body around. Hasn’t played much center at the NHL level but the Avalanche seem willing to give him a shot there to start the year.

94 Joel Kiviranta

Age: 28 | 5-11 | 185 pounds

Like Kelly, what you see is what you get. Will be depended on, at least to start the year, as one of the key penalty killers on the team.

71 Calum Ritchie

Age: 19 | 6-2 | 185 pounds

It is unknown if the 19-year-old will spend the entire season in the NHL, but even if he doesn’t, the future looks bright for him. He’ll get a chance to showcase his size and skill early in the year with the wingers missing from the lineup. Might be the most talented forward prospect the team has drafted since Rantanen.

51 Nikolai Kovalenko

Age: 24 | 5-10 | 180 pounds

One of the best players in the KHL the past two seasons and earned high praise from Bednar all training camp long. Not a big guy but as competitive as they come and willing to play in the dirty areas of the ice. He’s got the skill to go with that competition as well.

82 Ivan Ivan

Age: 22 | 6-0 | 180 pounds

Smart hockey player who just keeps getting better and better. Nothing flashy about his game but seems to always be in the right place. From undrafted on an AHL contract to potentially playing on opening night in just one year. Quite the story.

13 Valeri Nichushkin

Age: 29 | 6-4 | 210 pounds

When he’s in the lineup, he might be the most impactful forward on the team beyond MacKinnon. However, nothing but question marks surround him after the way the last two seasons have ended. He’s eligible to return in mid-November from his suspension and may have to earn back the trust of his teammates once he’s back. Nichushkin is such a good player that his presence may be the difference between this team being a true contender or not.

92 Gabriel Landeskog

Age: 31 | 6-1 | 215 pounds

His last NHL game was June 26, 2022…is this the year he finally returns? He thinks so, but there’s still no clear timeline on when that will happen, and no NHL player has ever successfully returned from the cartilage transplant surgery he had. The team has really missed him both on and off the ice the last two years.