Under the leadership of Joe Sakic, the Colorado Avalanche are both a team in win-now mode, with a bright future on the horizon as well. The Avalanche core of the roster is comprised of players in their prime under 25 lead by Nathan Mackinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar.
Captain Gabriel Landeskog is only 26-years-old and the veteran leader of the team is Erik Johnson at 31. Makar still qualifies for a prospect despite being a full-time NHL regular and headlines a top heavy prospect pool full of defensive stars.
What it all likely means is the Avalanche are a team that has their window of opportunity just starting to open, and it’s opening wide.