Colorado's Steady 'Cog'

Just the second player to play in 700-consecutive games to start their career. Co-Rookie of the Year for the 2007-08 season. A free-agent just one time. 1,171 games to date still leaving a nightly impact at age 35. If there's anything more impressive than those stunning statistics is veteran center of the Colorado Avalanche Andrew Cogliano's humility and character.

"I was in Edmonton for four years, starting my career there," Cogliano reflected. "Went to Anaheim, found a really nice niche playing on a good team. Usually, when you play on good teams everyone does a good job and you're doing a good job. I was lucky to stay in Anaheim for eight years. I found a really good role there and then I was in Dallas for a few years, then came to San Jose. Pretty fortunate for sure."
Cogliano is Canadian (native of a Toronto suburb), which may have something to do with his innate abilities, but after spending just a few minutes with him, it was clear it's just who he is.
"I think it's (hockey) something very popular up there," Cogliano said. "In Canada, playing hockey is something special. The NHL is obviously a lifelong dream like every kid in Canada. Hockey is kind of what we do up there, it's a part of our lives and our culture. Playing in the NHL can't get much better."
Cogliano is also a family man. When asked about what he likes to do on his off days and free time, his answer was immediate, "I have two kids, two daughters. I keep busy with them. Take them to the zoo, take them to the park and enjoy time with them as a family. At the end of the day, that's taking up a lot of my time, which is great. We're a nice cute little family, so I'm busy that's for sure."

Cogliano joined the Colorado Avalanche last season, his fifth team in his 16-year career. Cogliano had one word to describe last season, "Unbelievable."
The veteran joined the Avalanche at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline and bolstered the team's forward depth in its eventual Stanley Cup-winning run.
"[I was on a team] that wasn't going to make the playoffs," Cogliano said. "Then, I was getting the opportunity to go a contender and win a Cup. Obviously, what we did was a perfect scenario. It worked out perfectly for me, was a good fit for the team and I was able to be signed back here and hopefully do it again."
'Cogs,' as he is affectionately called by his teammates and the coaching staff has become just that - a key cog in the Avs' rotation in a season for a team that has been bitten multiple times by the injury bug.
Despite what has felt like a growing list each game, Cogliano did not seem fazed by the rotten luck. And now back from an injury of his own which sidelined him for two games prior to the Holiday Break, the veteran - who has often donned an 'A' on his sweater in the wake of injuries to Colorado's leadership group - is maintaining his narrow perspective and embracing the challenge.
"I think at the end of the day we've had a lot of injuries and other guys have had to step up," Cogliano said. "It's different roles, different matchups and I've obviously been one of those guys. I think on this time the standards are so high. Winning every night is our mentality. It forces you to play at a high level, it forces you to do the job that's necessary, but it's a great opportunity. It's a great opportunity for a guy like me, it's a great opportunity for younger guys that are playing more. I'm 35 years old, but I enjoy the opportunity to have more minutes and compete against really good players out there. When we win games and have success, it even feels better. It's been good so far. We want those guys back though. We're excited to get those guys back and hopefully in the meantime we can do what we've been doing."

Now, in his first full season with the team, Cogliano does not feel anything has changed for him as a player nor for the team's collective goal to defend their Stanley Cup title.
"I think it's the same expectations," Cogliano said. "Very high standards here from management to the coaching staff down on what's expected. I think we're just going through the season trying to get better and improve and try to get our game to where it was last year. Ultimately the expectation is to win a Cup. That's why we're here and I think we have the team to do that."