Colorado Still Has Something To Prove

Just a few months after qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2014, the mindset of the Colorado Avalanche entering the 2018-19 season is the same as it was entering last year's training camp.
Colorado's mission in 2017-18 was to prove to the hockey world that they were a team that is capable of competing at the highest level and reach the postseason. The Avs backed that up by finishing the season with 95 points and qualifying for the playoffs in a competitive Western Conference.

"We surprised a lot of people and found a way to get in the playoffs and get 95 points. That's strictly from a daily sort of mindset of our team that we were going to prove people wrong," head coach Jared Bednar said at the start of the Avalanche's training camp on Thursday. "We were hungry and our belief system was strong and every time doubt crept into our room our leadership group took over and made sure we had great bounce-back games.
"We were able to get back on track quickly, and we avoided big lulls in our game during the season. To me, they earned trust from the coaching staff, they built a lot of confidence and they should have that coming into the season. At the same time, I think we have to be cautious that we are not cocky in those regards."
The Avalanche ended the 2017-18 regular season with an increase of 47 points from 2016-17 to become the first NHL team to post a 40-plus point improvement from one campaign to the next (82-game seasons only) since the Pittsburgh Penguins also jumped 47 points from 2005-06 (58) to 2006-07 (105).
Colorado's turnaround is tied for the fourth-highest year-to-year improvement in the league's history.

"Last year we had something to prove, we had a bit of a chip on our shoulder, and I think that really worked well for us," said veteran defenseman Tyson Barrie. "Not a lot of people expected much out of us and it felt really good to prove them wrong, so I think we have to go in with that same hunger mentality if we want to accomplish anything."
Even though the team made vast improvements last season, they are still determined to grow.
In order for Colorado to qualify for the postseason last year, the Avs had to defeat the St. Louis Blues in the final game of the regular season. Rookie defenseman Samuel Girard scored a late first-period goal to take a 1-0 lead and Gabriel Landeskog recorded three points to clinch a playoff berth in the winner-take-all matchup.
"I still think we are trying to prove ourselves," said forward Nathan MacKinnon. "I think we are not guaranteed a playoff spot by any means, and we are going to have to fight for it. Our division is really solid and things can change. Hopefully our spot remains the same in April, but we will have to work for it."

MacKinnon is entering his third season as an alternate captain while Erik Johnson will be in his second full campaign with an 'A' on his jersey, and Landeskog will serve as the team's captain for the seventh year. As veterans, they will work closely with the coaching staff to make sure the message is consistent among the players as the on-ice aspect of training camp begins on Friday.
"I talk to [our leadership group] about where I see our team, why we had success last year in my opinion, what are some of the key contributing factors to that and how we make sure that we take a step forward instead of a step back like maybe all of the reporters think we are going to do," said Bednar. "They share the same thoughts. Knowing that we are in tune with where we are trying to get to and how we are going to get there I think it is important that we continue to talk on a weekly basis, if not every day on certain things.
"Making sure that we understand that some of the reasons we had success last year was our team was willing to sacrifice a little bit of their own game in order for what was best for the team. Being able to do that and have that role acceptance and still believe in one another and support one another I think was a key contributing factor. Our room was really tight last year, I think the new guys coming in are fitting in and they are going to help that. Some of that additional leadership in the room and some additional experience can only help us in my opinion."
The NHL is consistently getting more and more competitive, and teams have to constantly improve in order to remain at the top of the standings.
Having advanced to the playoffs last season, the Avalanche is confident going into the 2018-19 campaign but knows that if the club wants to get back to the postseason, a lot of hard work is ahead of it.
"It will be a fun challenge, and I think we can't underestimate ourselves either. We can't sell ourselves short, we got to make sure we come in with some swagger," said Landeskog. "Obviously, we know that what we accomplished last year just getting to the playoffs, there wasn't a whole lot of people that thought we were going to do that.
"We got to make sure we remember how much hard work we put into that and know that we aren't going to catch anybody sleeping this year. Everybody is going to know that we are a good team, and we are here to stay. It will be a fun challenge, and I can't wait to get going."