Despite being in a win now mode, the Avalanche still need to find a second-line centre
Photo credit: The Hockey Writers
The Avalanche only have two selections in the 2025 NHL Draft, a fourth-round and a seventh-round pick, which makes replenishing their prospect pool challenging. Although this may seem drastic, trading away draft picks to improve the team immediately is definitely the right call.
The truth is, winning a Stanley Cup is incredibly difficult. Many teams have been around for decades without ever capturing the ultimate prize. The Avalanche, who have consistently been contenders during their 29-year history, have still managed to claim the Cup three times in that period.
Avalanche management will have work to do this summer trying to find a second-line center.
Ryan Womeldorf from The Hockey Writers writes that the competition at the highest level is incredibly close, where just a few lucky breaks can change everything. To become a champion, a team's roster must be nearly flawless, which often means investing heavily in both money and assets.
For the Avalanche, with their deep and talented lineup, those draft picks won't provide much help in maintaining their contention over the next few seasons.
"Having the kind of lineup that the Avalanche do is something that most teams dream of. Though there are holes that need fixing, teams like the Avalanche are smart to fill those holes with proven commodities rather than holding onto draft capital that may produce 2-5 years down the road." -Womeldorf
In recent years, first-round draft picks have been somewhat overvalued in NHL discussions. While landing a star player from the draft can provide a cornerstone for a team for many years, the reality is that the chances of actually «hitting» on that pick are far from guaranteed.
The window is open with forward Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar.
Womeldorf also writes that when you have elite players like that, it's crucial to make the most of their peak years. MacKinnon will turn 30 before the season starts, and Makar will be 27 early in the season. They're not old by any means, but the team's window to compete at the highest level gets smaller with every season that passes.
"The window doesn't just open for every team (ask the Buffalo Sabres). The Avalanche are unique in that they have these pieces that will make them a very good team, at worst, and need to supplement those players with proven pieces. Moving draft picks that may help in the future for pieces that can help win now means maximizing the championship window." -Womeldorf
For rebuilding teams, the path forward is clear: draft young players and hope some develop into stars. But for a team like the Avalanche, the focus is on winning now, and that window remains open as long as MacKinnon and Makar keep performing at an elite level. Maximizing their impact has to be the top priority.
While the future might seem tougher due to a shortage of top prospects, it's still a manageable challenge. We'll have to wait and how Avalanche management deals with it this summer.
| POLL | ||
MAI 15 | 14 ANSWERS Despite being in a win now mode, the Avalanche still need to find a second-line centre Are you that worried about the Avalanche's second-line center position heading into the offseason? | ||
| yes | 7 | 50 % |
| no | 7 | 50 % |
| List of polls | ||
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