Following their 2022 Stanley Cup championship, the Colorado Avalanche suffered from a hangover in 2022-23. Colorado dropped from a win percentage of .726 to 665. Most shocking, the Avalanche were eliminated in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the two-year-old Seattle Kraken. Colorado paid for reading their headlines. Also, the Aves suffered from the NHL odds loss of goaltender Darcy Kuemper in a salary cap move. This year, the Avs have been something in between the two extremes. Certainly, Colorado is one of the most talented teams in the NHL. But they are not without weaknesses.
Colorado Avalanche 2024 Stanley Cup Odds
| Colorado Avalanche | Odds |
|---|---|
| 2024 Stanley Cup Odds: | +550 |
NHL Colorado Avalanche Team Overview
At the approach of the All-Star Break, the Colorado Avalanche are 31-14-3 straight up and 25-15-1 over/under the total. Also, Colorado is 1st in the Central Division playoff standings. Colorado is tied with Winnipeg in the Central Division playoff race. Late on, Colorado has covered six out of their last eight games. While the Avalanche have gone over the total in nine of its previous ten matchups.
Colorado has NHL offshore betting rankings of 1st for goals scored and 7th for power play efficiency. In comparison, on defense, the Avs have NHL rankings of 18th for goals against and 11th for penalty killing. Overall, the elephant in the room for the Colorado Avalanche remains goaltending. Until they tighten up between the pipes, the Avs are vulnerable against anyone they face.
Colorado Avalanche Key Players, Goaltending, and Coach
Number one goaltender Alexandar Georgiev has been under par this season. In his first 37 games, Georgiev has a .897 save percentage and a 2.92 goals-against average. Of major concern is that Georgiev had a save percentage of .919 last year. Now this is his second season in Colorado after starting his NHL career with the New York Rangers in 2017-18.
D Cale Makar is considered by many to be the best in the game. Certainly, he is one of the most exciting blue liners with skills that rival past legends Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey. In his first 43 games, Makar had 11 goals, 46 assists, 58 points, and a +11. Makar is a three-time All-Star, including this season. Previously, Makar was the 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP.
Colorado C and marquee man Nathan MacKinnon led the team with 30 goals and 523 assists in his first 42 games with a strong +16. Of course, MacKinnon was the first overall pick of the Avs in 2013 and has been the face of the franchise ever since. In 709 career games, Big Mac has 284 goals, 475 assists, and 759 points. MacKinnon is a seven-time All-Star. Including this year. Last year, MacKinnon scored a career-high 42 goals, 69 assists, and 111 points.
RW Mikko Rantanen had 27 goals, 38 assists, and 65 points in his first 48 games of this season. Rantanen was the 10th overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Avs. Also, he is a two-time NHL All-Star. Last year, Rantanen exploded for 55 goals, 50 assists, and 105 points.
Head coach Jared Bednar survived a terrible rookie season in 2016-17 when he went 22-56-4. Since then, Bednar has been one of the most successful coaches in the NHL. Colorado is coming off six consecutive playoff appearances under Bednar. His career record is 291-192-53, with one Stanley Cup.