Truth be known, the Avs’ defense of their glorious NHL championship in 2022 ended at the victory parade.
After taking long and glorious gulps from the Stanley Cup, the Avalanche could never shake the hangover.
Gabe Landeskog, the best captain any hockey team could want, came up with a lame knee that stubbornly refused to heal.
Nazem Kadri took a well-deserved payday in free agency and took his mess-around-and-find-out attitude with him to Calgary.
Rather than getting down to the difficult task of building a dynasty, coach Jared Bednar was stuck endlessly trying to patch cracks in his lineup.