Central Division 2014-15 Preview: Colorado Avalanche

For the Colorado Avalanche, duplicating last season's success will be a tall order in 2014-15. Here's our preview of the team and the NHL's Central Division.

Author:
Michael Blinn
Publish date:
Sep 26, 2014

SI.com's 2014-15 Preseason All-NHL Teams: first, second, third

: Patrick Roy

2013-14 RECORD: 52-22-8, 112 points (first in Central; lost to Wild, 4-3, in first round)

VITAL SIGNS: 2.99 goals per game (4th); 2.63 goals-against per game (15th); 19.8 power play pct. (5th); 80.7 penalty kill pct (24th); shootout record: 5-4 (19th)

NOTABLE ARRIVALS: RW Jarome Iginla, F Jesse Winchester, C Daniel Briere, D Brad Stuart

NOTABLE DEPARTURES: C Paul Stastny, LW P.A. Parenteau

PROJECTED DEPTH CHART:

Forwards

Ryan O'Reilly — Matt Duchene — Jarome Iginla
Gabriel Landeskog — Nathan MacKinnon — Alex Tanguay
Max Talbot — John Mitchell — Daniel Briere
Cody McLeod — Jesse Winchester — Marc-Andre Cliche
Joey Hishon

Defensemen
Brad Stuart — Erik Johnson
Jan Hejda — Tyson Barrie
Nick Holden — Ryan Wilson
Nate Guenin, Zach Redmond

Goalies
Semyon Varlamov
Reto Berra

Fancy Stats Primer: Your guide to hockey's advanced analytics jargon

Reto Berra

• Roy expects tougher season this time

Jarome Iginla

At 37, Iginla is coming off his twelfth 30-goal season and he used his consistency to score a three-year deal with a team he hopes will deliver the first Stanley Cup of his long, productive career. While his hands still work just fine, his declining speed was exposed in the Bruins' second-round loss to the Canadiens. He'll have to prove that he can keep up with the Avs' young guns and is worth the big offseason money.

• Iginla offered assistant captain's role

PREDICTION: 97 points, fourth in Central (wild card 1)