The Colorado Avalanche look like the team to beat this season, full stop.
Right now, the Avs are projected as favorites to win the Stanley Cup, and given their commanding lead, points-wise, as compared to the rest of the NHL, it's hard to disagree. Not only that, but Colorado is primed to sweep some of the major awards, with Nathan MacKinnon the favorite to win the Hart Trophy and Cale Makar looking destined to take home the Norris Trophy. Not to mention, the Avalanche got off to a 19-1-6 start through 26 games, putting them on pace to potentially break the Boston Bruins single-season points record of 135.