The Colorado Avalanche are loaded with offensive weapons. Players like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar can single-handedly take over a game. There's even more firepower behind them in Martin Necas, Artturi Lehkonen, Val Nichushkin and recently returned captain Gabriel Landeskog. But offense can't win you all the games. One of the biggest knocks on the Avalanche for the past few seasons has been their physicality, or rather, the lack thereof.
Getting pushed around contributed to past team struggles
Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022, the Avalanche have had little postseason success. They lost to the Seattle Kraken in the first round in 2023, then the Stars in the second round in 2024 and again to the Stars in 2025.