The Avalanche played Game 1 of their first-round series vs. Nashville a year ago on May 3, beginning their 20-game run to the Stanley Cup. The one-year anniversary of that game was after Colorado had already been eliminated by Seattle in seven games this year.
After an unusually short offseason — even for a champion — and a turbulent 2022-23 season filled with injuries, it’s time for Colorado to reset.
The same core will be back for the 2023-24 season, with Nathan MacKinnon’s new contract extension going into effect and making him the highest-paid player in the NHL.