Meet the 2024-25 Avalanche: A breakdown of the complete team roster
Denver Post
FORWARDS
17 Parker Kelly
C/LW | 25 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds
Cut loose by Ottawa after setting career highs in games (80), goals (8) and points (18), Kelly has spent a lot of time at center during training camp and should be a regular on the fourth line in a role similar to the now-retired Andrew Cogliano.
20 Ross Colton
C | 28 | 6-0 | 194
Solid first season as the No. 3 center. Avs are likely to lean on his line a little more early in the season with the missing offensive weapons. He could also become a regular on the penalty kill.
25 Logan O’Connor
RW | 28 | 6-0 | 175
Missed the end of the season because of hip surgery, but was in the midst of a breakout campaign before that. Recently signed a six-year contract, cementing his place as one of the league’s best complimentary core players.
27 Jonathan Drouin
LW | 29 | 5-11 | 198
One of the best stories in the NHL last season, Drouin became an indispensable player with his creativity and improved two-way play. Avs brought him back on another one-year deal, and new career bests in goals and points appear plausible.
28 Miles Wood
LW | 29 | 6-2 | 195
Entering the second of a six-year deal, Wood made big strides with his overall game and became a key penalty killer in his first season with the Avs. Scored his fewest goals (9) in a full season since 2016-17 after scoring just once in his final 33 regular-season games.
29 Nathan MacKinnon
C | 29 | 6-0 | 200
Set a franchise record with 140 points and scored a career-best 51 goals en route to his first league MVP honors. His goals and points per game have increased each of the past three seasons. Could he do that again?
37 Casey Mittelstadt
C | 25 | 6-1 | 195
Arrived before the deadline in a trade from Buffalo and impressed with his playmaking and work rate down the stretch and into the postseason. Signed a three-year deal in June and should be the long-term solution at center behind MacKinnon.
43 Valeri Nichushkin
RW | 29 | 6-4 | 210
Suspended until at least mid-November while in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Players Assistance Program. What happens after that will likely define whether the Avs are a true Stanley Cup contender or just a good team.
51 Nikolai Kovalenko
RW | 24 | 5-10 | 180
After back-to-back strong years in the KHL, the 2018 draft pick was finally ready for North America. Made his NHL debut during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Had a great camp, earned a chance to play up in the lineup to start the year.
62 Artturi Lehkonen
LW | 25 | 6-1 | 185
Missed 35 games because of a neck injury, but continued to be one of the top two-way forwards in the league and a key cog. Had offseason shoulder surgery and will miss the start of this season, but should be ready at some point in November.
71 Calum Ritchie
C/RW | 19 | 6-2 | 185
Flashed star-level talent during camp. Clearly a top prospect and a key part of maintaining the Stanley Cup contention window through the second half of this decade. Will he stay beyond a nine-game trial, or head back to the OHL?
82 Ivan Ivan
C/LW | 22 | 6-0 | 190
Began last season on an AHL contract, but earned an NHL deal and then became the surprise of this training camp, beating out a handful of veterans with NHL experience for a spot on the fourth line, likely at left wing to start.
92 Gabe Landeskog
LW | 31 | 6-1 | 215
The captain is determined to return after missing the past two seasons recovering from multiple knee surgeries. When that will happen, and how effective he can be, could be a major turning point for the Avs.
94 Joel Kiviranta
LW | 28 | 5-11 | 185
Came to camp on a PTO last year and eventually became a regular. A bit of a Swiss Army knife. Not flashy, but dependable and could move around the lineup until the Avs get closer to being whole up front.
96 Mikko Rantanen
RW | 27 | 6-foot-4 | 215 pounds
Coming off back-to-back 100-point seasons, he’s clearly one of the top 5-7 wings in the NHL. Also in the last year of his contract and has earned a raise from his current $9.25 million cap hit. Will the deal get done soon, so it’s not a distraction?
DEFENSEMEN
3 John Ludvig
LD | 24 | 6-1 | 210
Claimed on waivers at the end of training camp, Ludvig essentially replaces Erik Brannstrom as one of the extra defensemen to start the season. He’s more of a physical, defense-first guy than the other depth options.
7 Devon Toews
LD | 30 | 6-1 | 191
Didn’t earn any Norris Trophy votes for the first time in four years, but remains one of the best two-way defensemen in the sport. Should be another year of logging big minutes against top players and anchoring both PP2 and the penalty kill.
8 Cale Makar
RD | 25 | 6-0 | 187
Set franchise record for points by a defensemen with 90, and yet often didn’t feel like he was playing to his standard. A healthy season for Makar could be a historic one.
42 Josh Manson
RD | 33 | 6-3 | 218
Played 70-plus games for the first time since 2018-19 and set a career-high with 8 goals as a fixture in the top four. Manson could be leaned on even more to play his rugged style against the bigger teams on the schedule.
44 Calvin de Haan
LD | 33 | 6-1 | 192
Not as big and physical as Jack Johnson, but he’s going to be the replacement as the club’s defense-first third-pairing option and should be an upgrade if he stays healthy. May sit in favor of a younger puck mover against smaller, faster teams.
49 Samuel Girard
LD | 26 | 5-10 | 170
Coming off a monumental year, both on and off the ice. Played some of the best hockey of his career after spending time in the player assistance program. A full year of how he played in the second half would be huge.
58 Oliver Kylington
LD | 27 | 6-0 | 183
Returned to the NHL after sitting out all of the 2022-23 season to focus on his mental health and played 33 games for Calgary. A smooth-skating, buy-low breakout candidate if he can find a regular role.
70 Sam Malinski
RD | 26 | 5-11 | 190
Impressed in 23 NHL games after being a college free agent signing after the 2022-23 campaign. He bulked up in the summer and had a great camp. Looks ticketed to start the year on the third pairing.
GOALTENDERS
40 Alexandar Georgiev
G | 28 | 6-1 | 178
Had an up-and-down regular season, a terrible Game 1 in Winnipeg, and then a strong bounceback over the next 10 playoff games. He’s playing for a new contract this season, though the Avs haven’t paid a lot for a starting goalie in a long time.
60 Justus Annunen
G | 24 | 6-4 | 210
Lost the No. 2 job to waiver-wide addition Ivan Prosvetov, then got his chance and never relinquished the role. Put up excellent numbers, and could earn more playing time this season, if he proves his shaky start to camp is behind him.
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