NHL Team Preview: Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche enter the 2021-22 NHL season with plenty of optimism, but that is the same position they have been in over the last few seasons. Colorado continues to put up some big numbers during the regular season, but has struggled to find success in the postseason. 

The NHL betting lines will show that Colorado is once again the betting favorite to win the Stanley Cup, but this is one of the hardest championships to win in professional sports. Colorado is back in the Central Division this season, and that is a division that is loaded with some terrific teams. 

Colorado is going to be one of the highest-scoring teams in the NHL again this season, but they have to find a way to get some stops. The Avalanche will be a popular NHL team to bet on this season, especially when it comes to online sports betting.

The Avalanche return much of the same roster from a season ago, but they are making a change at a very important position. Colorado is willing to try anything to achieve postseason success, but getting through the regular season healthy is the first goal. 

Big Additions

The biggest addition that the Avalanche made this offseason cam at the goaltending position, and this was an area of need for Colorado. Goaltending has been one of the biggest problems when they have been chasing a title, and there is hope that they have upgraded that position.

Colorado was able to land Darcy Kuemper in a trade, and he will move right into the number one goaltending spot. Kuemper comes to the Avalanche from Arizona, and he is a goalie that has had an impressive career in the blue paint. 

Impactful Subtractions

Colorado returns their most important players from a season ago, but this offseason was a bit difficult for the team. There were some notable subtractions, and that could cause the Avalanche to get off to a shaky start.

Brandon Saad left the Avalanche in free agency, and that takes away a terrific goal-scoring option for the team. Philipp Grubauer is the other big loss for Colorado this offseason as he chose to sign a deal with the Seattle Kraken. 

The final notable loss for the Avalanche was forward Joonas Donskoi after they failed to protect him in the expansion draft. 

Key Players

The three most important players for the Avalanche are back again this season, and the Avalanche will only go as far as they take them. Grubauer used to be a part of this group, but he is no longer in the mix.

Nathan MacKinnon is one of the best players in the NHL and he sets the tone for the Colorado Avalanche on the offensive end of the ice. MacKinnon is one of the betting picks to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the best player in the league.

Gabriel Landeskog is another key player for the Avalanche as he provided a veteran presence to this team. MacKinnon usually gets all of the press and attention, but Landeskog is the clear leader of this team. 

The final important piece to the puzzle in Colorado is defenseman Cale Makar. The Avalanche are paying Makar a massive contract to be one of the top defensemen in the NHL and they need him to play like it. 

Online Sports Betting: Colorado Avalanche

There are a number of ways to bet on the Colorado Avalanche at an online sportsbook, and you will find some impressive odds when looking at the list. Colorado has been the gold standard for NHL teams during the regular season in recent years, and they have high expectations as well. 

The Colorado Avalanche are the current betting favorite to win the Stanley Cup with odds set at +550. The Tampa Bay Lightning have won two straight titles, and they are next on the list at +650.

If Colorado has another regular season as they have in recent years, then they should have little trouble winning the Central Division. The NHL betting lines have Colorado at -220 to win the Central Division. 

Winning the Western Conference is the first step for the Avalanche in winning the Stanley Cup, and this has been a challenge. Colorado is the betting favorite at +200 to win the West, with the Vegas Golden Knights right behind them at +300. 

The regular-season point total for the Colorado Avalanche is set at 111.5 total points. 

 

 

* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.