After the 2022 NHL Draft, the opening of the free agent market and several staff moves during the offseason, NHL.com is profiling the various teams for the 2022-23 season, which begins on October 7. Today, the Colorado Avalanche.
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UPDATE : Calgary | Caroline | Chicago | Columbus | Detroit
Record in 2021-22: 56-19-7, first in the Central section; Stanley Cup champion
Best striker : Mikko Rantanen (36)
Best passer: Nazem Kadri (59)
Top scorer: Rantanen (92)
The arrivals
• Alexander Georgiev (G)
The 26-year-old guard was acquired in a trade from the New York Rangers on July 7 and signed a three-year contract with Colorado three days later. He was 15-10-2 with a 2.92 goals-against average, .898 save percentage and two shutouts in 33 games (28 starts) with the Rangers last season.
Departures
• Nazem Kadri (A)
• Darcy Kuemper (G)
• Andre Burakovsky (A)
• Jack Johnson (D)
• Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (A)
Kadri is still an unrestricted free agent after recording an NHL career-high 87 points in 71 regular season games (28 goals, 59 assists) and 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 16 playoff games of the Stanley Cup on the Avalanche’s journey to their Stanley Cup triumph. Johnson, another unrestricted free agent, had nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 74 regular season games.
Kuemper agreed to a five-year contract with the Washington Capitals on July 13 after going 37-12-4 with a 2.54 GAA, .921 save percentage and five shutouts in 57 starts in regular season, and 10-4 with an average. 2.57, a .902 save percentage and one shutout in 16 postseason starts.
Burakovsky signed a five-year contract with the Seattle Kraken on July 13 after setting an NHL career high with 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists) in 80 games. He added eight points (three goals, five assists) in 12 playoff games.
Aubé-Kubel signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs the same day. The Quebecer amassed 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 74 games with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Avalanche last season.
They knock on the door
• Ben Meyers (A)
The 23-year-old forward signed a two-year contract April 13 following his sophomore season at the University of Minnesota. He scored one goal in five games with the Avalanche, but missed the playoffs after recording 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 34 NCAA games.
Video: CAR@COL: Meyers scores in his NHL debut
Needs
From depth to attack. Meyers’ availability will help fill a void on the bottom line if Kadri decides to move on to another team, but Colorado will be looking for a reliable second-line center and winger. third or fourth line to take over from Kurtis MacDermid.
what they said
“We’re very confident with the group of forwards we have right now, but as always, we’re always looking to improve. And if there is a logical transaction, whether it is two hours or two months before training camp, we will try to improve the formation. It’s our job, but we like the current formation. » — General Manager Chris MacFarland
Planned formation of the Avalanche
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Gabriel Landeskog — J.T. Compher — Valery Nichushkin
Alex Newhook — Ben Meyers — Logan O’Connor
Darren Helm — Andrew Cogliano — MacDermid complained
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Bowen Byram — Erik Johnson
Alexander Georgiev
Pavel French
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