History of the Colorado AvalancheÂ
Founded in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques, the Colorado Avalanche relocated to Denver, Colorado, in 1995 and became the Colorado Avalanche. They are part of the Central Division of the NHL‘s Western Conference. Since then, the team has won two Stanley Cup championships. Additionally, they have produced numerous Hall of Fame players.
The early years of the franchise were marked by some struggles. In the beginning, the Nordiques failed to make the playoffs in their first six seasons. However, the team slowly started to improve. This was all thanks in part to the arrival of young stars like Peter Stastny and Joe Sakic. The Nordiques made the playoffs in 1981 and continued to be a competitive team for the rest of the decade.
In 1995, the team moved to Colorado and became the Avalanche. Led by the dominant play of Sakic, the team wasted no time establishing itself as a force in the league. In their first season in Colorado, the Avalanche won their Division. Finally, they reached the Western Conference Finals before losing.Â
Are the Avalanche’s Best Years Over?
But the Avalanche’s best years were yet to come. In the 1995-96 season, the team added future Hall of Famers Patrick Roy and Ray Bourque to the roster, In the end, they won the Stanley Cup that year. They defeated the Florida Panthers in the Finals. They repeated as champions the following season, defeating the Red Wings in a thrilling Western Conference Final. Then, they went on to sweep the Carolina Hurricanes in the Finals.
Over the next decade, the Avalanche continued to be a perennial playoff team. They made the postseason in every year except for 2006-07. Sakic remained the face of the franchise, but he was joined by other stars. Some stars include Milan Hejduk, Peter Forsberg, and Rob Blake. In 2001, the Avalanche won their second conference championship. However, they lost to the New Jersey Devils in the Finals.
Recent YearsÂ
Since then, the Avalanche have continued to be a competitive team. Yet, they have not reached the same heights as they did in the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, the franchise has seen the rise of new stars. Some stars include Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen. They have all led the team back to the playoffs in recent years.
Throughout their history, the Avalanche have been known for their skilled and exciting style of play. In addition, they are known for their fierce rivalries with other teams in the Western Conference. Overall, the Colorado Avalanche have left an indelible mark on the NHL and will continue to be a force for years to come.
* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.