2025–26 Colorado Avalanche season
National Hockey League season
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The 2025–26 Colorado Avalanche season was the 47th season for the Avalanche as the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that joined the league in 1979, and their 30th playing season since the franchise relocated from Quebec City to Denver before the start of the 1995–96 season.[1] To commemorate the previous iteration of the franchise, the Avalanche wore Quebec Nordiques jerseys in eight games in 2025–26 as part of the franchise's 30th season.[2][3]
| 2025–26 Colorado Avalanche | |
|---|---|
Presidents' Trophy winners | |
Central Division champions | |
| Division | 1st Central |
| Conference | 1st Western |
| 2025–26 record | 55–16–11 |
| Home record | 25–9–6 |
| Road record | 27–7–5 |
| Goals for | 302 |
| Goals against | 203 |
| Team information | |
| General manager | Chris MacFarland |
| Coach | Jared Bednar |
| Captain | Gabriel Landeskog |
| Alternate captains | Nathan MacKinnon Cale Makar |
| Arena | Ball Arena |
| Minor league affiliates | Colorado Eagles (AHL) Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Nathan MacKinnon (53) |
| Assists | Nathan MacKinnon (74) |
| Points | Nathan MacKinnon (127) |
| Penalty minutes | Josh Manson (91) |
| Plus/minus | Nathan MacKinnon (+57) |
| Wins | Scott Wedgewood (29) |
| Goals against average | Trent Miner (2.03) |
After a 3–0 victory against the Nashville Predators on November 22, 2025, and a 1–0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on November 23, the Avalanche recorded back-to-back shutouts on consecutive days for the first time in franchise history.[4]
Following a win over the Vancouver Canucks on December 2, and having compiled an 19–1–6 record, the Avalanche joined the 1979–80 Philadelphia Flyers as the only two teams in NHL history with one regulation loss through 26 games.[5][6]
After a 5–3 comeback win over the Carolina Hurricanes on January 3, 2026, the Avalanche became the first team in NHL history to have only two regulation losses in the first 40 games.[7]
On March 20, the Avalanche became the first team to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs following a 4–1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, making it to the postseason for the ninth consecutive season.[8] With the Toronto Maple Leafs missing the playoffs for the first time since 2015–16, the Avalanche alongside the Tampa Bay Lightning now hold the longest active playoff streak in the NHL.[9]
In the playoffs, the Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings in the first round,[10] and defeated the Minnesota Wild in five games in the second round.[11] They entered the Western Conference final as heavy favorites against the Vegas Golden Knights, who only won 39 games in the regular season.[12][13] However, the series quickly became a disaster for Colorado (including a blown three-goal lead in game 3)[14] as Vegas upset the Avalanche in a sweep and advanced to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.[15]
Standings
Divisional standings
| Pos | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | RW | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | p – Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 48 | 302 | 203 | +99 | 121 |
| 2 | x – Dallas Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 38 | 279 | 226 | +53 | 112 |
| 3 | x – Minnesota Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 31 | 272 | 240 | +32 | 104 |
| 4 | x – Utah Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 33 | 268 | 240 | +28 | 92 |
| 5 | St. Louis Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 33 | 231 | 258 | −27 | 86 |
| 6 | Nashville Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 28 | 247 | 269 | −22 | 86 |
| 7 | Winnipeg Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 28 | 231 | 260 | −29 | 82 |
| 8 | Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 21 | 213 | 275 | −62 | 72 |
Source: National Hockey League[16]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
p – Clinched Presidents' Trophy; x – Clinched playoff spot
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
p – Clinched Presidents' Trophy; x – Clinched playoff spot
Conference standings
| Pos | Div | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | RW | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CE | x – Utah Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 33 | 268 | 240 | +28 | 92 |
| 2 | PA | x – Los Angeles Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 22 | 225 | 247 | −22 | 90 |
| 3 | CE | St. Louis Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 33 | 231 | 258 | −27 | 86 |
| 4 | CE | Nashville Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 28 | 247 | 269 | −22 | 86 |
| 5 | PA | San Jose Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 27 | 251 | 292 | −41 | 86 |
| 6 | CE | Winnipeg Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 28 | 231 | 260 | −29 | 82 |
| 7 | PA | Seattle Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 26 | 226 | 263 | −37 | 79 |
| 8 | PA | Calgary Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 27 | 212 | 259 | −47 | 77 |
| 9 | CE | Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 22 | 213 | 275 | −62 | 72 |
| 10 | PA | Vancouver Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 15 | 216 | 316 | −100 | 58 |
Source: National Hockey League[17]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
x – Clinched playoff spot
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
x – Clinched playoff spot
Schedule and results
Preseason
The Avalanche's preseason schedule was released on June 20, 2025.[18]
2025 preseason game log: 4–2–0 (home: 3–0–0; road: 1–2–0)
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Win Loss OT/SO Loss A – Split Squad |
Regular season
The regular season schedule was released on July 16, 2025.[25]
| 2025–26 game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Legend: Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) OT/SO loss (1 point) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playoffs
| 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Legend: Win Loss | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Player statistics
As of May 26, 2026
Skaters
Goaltenders
| Player | GP | GS | TOI | W | L | OT | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO | G | A | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Wedgewood | 45 | 43 | 2,549:04 | 31 | 6 | 6 | 86 | 2.02 | 1,093 | .921 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Mackenzie Blackwood | 39 | 36 | 2,155:41 | 23 | 10 | 2 | 90 | 2.51 | 933 | .904 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trent Miner | 4 | 3 | 236:34 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 2.03 | 104 | .933 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | GP | GS | TOI | W | L | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO | G | A | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Wedgewood | 11 | 10 | 606:07 | 7 | 4 | 25 | 2.47 | 260 | .904 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mackenzie Blackwood | 4 | 3 | 170:21 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2.82 | 73 | .890 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Avalanche. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.
Transactions
The Avalanche have been involved in the following transactions during the 2025–26 season.
Key:
- † Contract is entry-level.
- ‡ Contract initially takes effect in the 2026–27 season.
Trades
| Date | Details | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 27, 2025 | To Colorado Avalanche Gavin Brindley 3rd-round pick in 2025 conditional CBJ 2nd-round pick in 2027 or MIN 2nd-round pick in 2027 |
To Columbus Blue Jackets Charlie Coyle Miles Wood |
[125] |
| July 25, 2025 | To Colorado Avalanche Danil Gushchin |
To San Jose Sharks Oskar Olausson |
[126] |
| January 20, 2026 | To Colorado Avalanche Valtteri Puustinen 7th-round pick in 2026 |
To Pittsburgh Penguins Ilya Solovyov |
[127] |
| February 24, 2026 | To Colorado Avalanche Brett Kulak |
To Pittsburgh Penguins Sam Girard 2nd-round pick in 2028 |
[128] |
| March 4, 2026 | To Colorado Avalanche Nick Blankenburg |
To Nashville Predators 5th-round pick in 2027 |
[129] |
| March 5, 2026 | To Colorado Avalanche Nicolas Roy |
To Toronto Maple Leafs conditional[A] BOS 5th-round pick in 2026 or COL 5th-round pick in 2026 or PHI 5th-round pick in 2026 conditional[B] 1st-round pick in 2027 or 1st-round pick in 2028 |
[130] [131] |
| March 6, 2026 | To Colorado Avalanche Nazem Kadri*[C] 4th-round pick in 2027 |
To Calgary Flames Max Curran Victor Olofsson conditional[D] 2nd-round pick in 2027 conditional[E] 1st-round pick in 2028 |
[132] |
| June 16, 2026 | To Colorado Avalanche Magnus Chrona 3rd-round pick in 2026 COL 3rd-round pick in 2027 |
To Nashville Predators Ross Colton Isak Posch |
[133] |
Players acquired
| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Ronnie Attard | Edmonton Oilers | 1-year | Free agency | [134] |
| July 2, 2025 | Brent Burns | Carolina Hurricanes | 1-year | Free agency | [135] |
| July 4, 2025 | Alex Barre-Boulet | Laval Rocket (AHL) | 1-year | Free agency | [136] |
Players lost
| Date | Player | New team | Term | Via | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Jonathan Drouin | New York Islanders | 2-year | Free agency | [137] |
| Ryan Lindgren | Seattle Kraken | 4-year | Free agency | [138] | |
| July 2, 2025 | Calle Rosen | Washington Capitals | 1-year | Free agency | [139] |
| October 1, 2025 | Erik Johnson | Retirement | [140] | ||
Signings
| Date | Player | Term | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | Sam Malinski | 1-year | [141] |
| Trent Miner | 2-year | [142] | |
| July 1, 2025 | Jack Ahcan | 1-year | [143] |
| Parker Kelly | 4-year | [144] | |
| T. J. Tynan | 1-year | [143] | |
| July 10, 2025 | Josh Manson | 2-year | [145] |
| August 8, 2025 | Joel Kiviranta | 1-year | [146] |
| August 18, 2025 | Alex Gagne | 2-year† | [147][148] |
| August 20, 2025 | Victor Olofsson | 1-year | [149] |
| October 27, 2025 | Tristen Nielsen | 2-year | [150] |
| October 30, 2025 | Martin Necas | 8-year‡ | [151] |
| November 13, 2025 | Scott Wedgewood | 1-year | [152] |
| January 27, 2026 | Sam Malinski | 4-year‡ | [153] |
| March 13, 2026 | Gustav Stjernberg | 2-year†‡ | [154] |
| March 30, 2026 | Matthew DiMarsico | 2-year†‡ | [155] |
Draft picks
Below are the Colorado Avalanche's selections at the 2025 NHL entry draft, which will be held on June 27 and 28, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.
| Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 77[F] | Francesco Dell'Elce | D |  Canada |
UMass Minutemen | Hockey East |
| 4 | 118 | Linus Funck | D |  Sweden |
Luleå HF J20 | J20 Nationell |
| 7 | 214 | Nolan Roed | C |  United States |
Tri-City Storm | USHL |
Notes
- Toronto will receive the lowest of Colorado's, Boston's, or Philadelphia's fifth-round picks in 2026.
- Toronto will receive Colorado's first-round pick in 2027 if the pick is outside of the top 10, and has not been previously conveyed to the New York Islanders per an earlier trade; otherwise, Toronto will receive Colorado's first-round pick in 2028.
- Calgary retained 20% of Kadri's contract.
- Conditions unknown.
- Conditions unknown.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets' third-round pick went to the Colorado Avalanche as the result of a trade on June 27, 2025, that sent Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to Columbus in exchange for Gavin Brindley, a conditional second-round pick in 2027 and this pick.[125]