Avalanche’s Rollercoaster: Best and Worst Moments from 2015-2020

The journey of the Colorado Avalanche over the past thirty years has been a dramatic saga of soaring triumphs and crushing defeats. In this latest installment of our off-season series, we delve into the best and worst moments from 2015 to 2020, capturing the essence of a franchise that has experienced it all.

Fans of both the Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings eagerly anticipated a weekend that would rekindle the fierce rivalry between the two storied franchises. The excitement was palpable as the Avalanche prepared to host their first outdoor game, a momentous occasion in their history. Before the main event on February 27, the alumni game drew significant attention, featuring a roster filled with Hall of Famers ready to celebrate their legacy. Although time had softened the rivalry, the competitive spirit remained intact.

Valeri Kamensky, who scored in the first-ever game for the Avs in 1995, opened the scoring in the alumni match, setting the tone for a nostalgic showdown. The period saw both alumni captains, Steve Yzerman of Detroit and Joe Sakic of Colorado, find the net, with Sakic’s goal putting the Avs alumni ahead 2-1. Milan Hejduk added to the lead in the second period, and after a strong performance from goaltender Craig Billington, who stepped in for Patrick Roy, Raymond Bourque extended the lead to 4-1. Despite a late goal from Brendan Shanahan for Detroit, Stéphane Yelle sealed a 5-2 victory for the Avalanche alumni, culminating in a heartwarming handshake at center ice.

The modern Avs team faced a different fate the next night. Despite a promising start with goals from Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie, the Red Wings rallied in the third period to claim a 5-3 victory. The handshake line at the end of the game signified the end of a heated rivalry, but the outcome left fans reflecting on what could have been.

As the calendar turned to April, the Avalanche found themselves in a precarious position, chasing the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. A key matchup against the St. Louis Blues became crucial, but the game started poorly. After falling behind 3-0 in the first period, the Avalanche struggled offensively. A late goal from Matt Duchene, marking his 30th of the season, provided a glimmer of hope, but an empty-net goal from Troy Brouwer sealed a 5-1 loss. Head coach Patrick Roy expressed his frustration, criticizing Duchene’s celebration during a time when the team was far from successful. Duchene, however, reflected on the disappointment of missing the playoffs rather than his personal milestone.

In an attempt to mend fences, both Roy and Duchene spoke about their conversation the following day. Duchene acknowledged the misstep in his reaction, while Roy praised his willingness to learn. Despite their efforts, the Avalanche lost their final three games of the season, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

In a shocking turn of events, Patrick Roy resigned as head coach on August 11, leaving the organization scrambling. His departure prompted general manager Joe Sakic to find a new leader for the team. Two weeks later, he hired Jared Bednar, who had just led the Lake Erie Monsters to a Calder Cup victory. Bednar expressed his excitement for the opportunity to coach at the NHL level, aiming to compete for a Stanley Cup.

Bednar’s tenure began with promise, but the Avalanche’s season quickly spiraled downward. After a wild 6-5 victory over the Dallas Stars in their opener, the team struggled to find consistency. A series of losses left them mired in the standings, and by the end of the calendar year, they faced an uphill battle. The situation worsened when goaltender Semyon Varlamov underwent hip surgery, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. The team endured a series of lengthy losing streaks, and by March, their struggles reached new depths.

Despite the challenges, the Avalanche’s story is one of resilience. The highs and lows of their journey from 2015 to 2020 reflect the passion and dedication of the franchise and its loyal fanbase. As they look toward the future, Avalanche supporters can only hope that the best moments will soon outweigh the blurts in the years to come.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.