It is no secret that, at the beginning of last season, there was some tension in the Colorado Avalanche locker room. Some early struggles flowed over and the team seemed fractured moving forward. They solved many of those issues as the season went along through trades and re-establishing their winning ways. This season, they have built on that foundation and have created a team energy that is all vibes, both on and off the ice.
The biggest piece of the Avs’ culture is, of course, the regular season return of their captain, Gabriel Landeskog. Having his voice back in the room has been huge, especially since he keeps everyone even-keeled.