NHL Stats Season Preview: Avalanche

TEAM LOOK-AHEAD

SEASON-OPENING STATS

* Mikko Rantanen(4-12-16) and Nathan MacKinnon(8-7-15) each opened the 2018-19 season with a nine-game point streak en route to career years offensively. Only five skaters in franchise history had longer season-opening point streaks (all w/ QUE): Mats Sundin (30 GP in 1992-93), Peter Stastny (16 GP in 1987-88), Michel Goulet (14 GP in 1985-86), Joe Sakic (12 GP in 1988-89) and Wendel Clark (10 GP in 1994-95).

OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK

* Nathan MacKinnon recorded a career-high 99 points in 2018-19 (41-58-99 in 82 GP) after also topping the 90-point mark in 2017-18 (39-58-97 in 74 GP). Since the team started play in Colorado in 1995-96, only two players have recorded three or more 90-point seasons with the club: Joe Sakic (4) and Peter Forsberg (4).
* Additionally, MacKinnon can become the first Avalanche/Nordiques player with consecutive 40-goal seasons since Michel Goulet had seven in a row from 1981-82 to 1987-88.
* MacKinnon (41), Gabriel Landeskog(34) and Mikko Rantanen (31) all reached the 30-goal mark in 2018-19, the first time the franchise saw three 30-goal scorers in the same season since four did so in 1995-96. The last time the franchise had three or more 30-goal scorers in consecutive seasons was 1984-85 and 1985-86 when the club was based in Quebec.

THE FUTURE IS NOW

* The Avalanche has selected a defenseman within the top five picks of the NHL Draft in two of the last three years: Cale Makar(No. 4 in 2017) and Bowen Byram(No. 4 in 2019). The franchise record for most points by a rookie defenseman is 37 (Bruce Bell: 6-31-37 in 1984-85 w/ QUE). The franchise mark for most goals by a rookie blueliner is 10, set in 2003-04 by John-Michael Liles, who also owns the highest point total by a rookie defenseman since the team's move to Colorado (10-24-37).
* On April 15, Makar became the first defenseman - and seventh player of any position - to
score a goal while making his League debut
in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

BETWEEN THE PIPES

* Philipp Grubauerowns a career save percentage of .921, tied for the
highest among active goaltenders with at least 100 appearances
. Grubauer, who had a career-high 18 wins in 2018-19 and looks to receive more playing time in 2019-20, can become the second German-born goaltender to win 20 games in a season (Thomas Greiss: 3x, most recently 2018-19).

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

A look at how players have fared historically in their debut game/season with the franchise:
First game with Avalanche/Nordiques...
SKATERS
Most goals:3 - Real Cloutier (Oct. 10, 1979) and Joe Colborne (Oct. 15, 2016)
Most assists: 3 - three times; last: Francois Beauchemin (Oct. 8, 2015)
Most points:3 - six times; last: Joe Colborne (Oct. 15, 2016)
DEFENSEMEN
Most goals:1 - eight times; last: Stefan Elliott (Nov. 26, 2011)
Most assists:3 - Kerry Huffman (Oct. 8, 1992) and Francois Beauchemin (Oct. 8, 2015)
Most points:3 - Kerry Huffman (Oct. 8, 1992) and Francois Beauchemin (Oct. 8, 2015)
GOALTENDERS
Most saves:38 - Craig Anderson (Oct. 1, 2009)
Shutout:Mario Gosselin (Feb. 26, 1984)
First season with Avalanche/Nordiques...
SKATERS
Most goals:42 - Real Cloutier (1979-80)
Most assists:70 - Peter Stastny (1980-81)
Most points:109 - Peter Stastny (1980-81)
DEFENSEMEN
Most goals:20 - Steve Duchesne (1992-93)
Most assists:62 - Steve Duchesne (1992-93)
Most points:82 - Steve Duchesne (1992-93)
GOALTENDERS
Most wins:38 - Craig Anderson (2009-10)
Most Shutouts:7 - Craig Anderson (2009-10)