Avalanche season preview: Grubauer, Cole provide depth

The 2018-19 NHL season begins Oct. 3. With training camps open, NHL.com is taking a look at the five keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lines for all 31 teams. Today, the Colorado Avalanche.

Coach:Jared Bednar (third season)
Last season:43-30-9; fourth place Central Division, lost to Nashville Predators in Western Conference First Round.
RELATED: [Complete Season Preview coverage]

5 KEYS

1. Great expectations

The Avalanche are taking a Stanley Cup Playoffs-or-bust attitude after making it to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2013-14. Their 47-point improvement (95 last season, 48 in 2016-17) was the fourth highest in NHL history and the largest since the Pittsburgh Penguins also improved by 47 points from 2005-06 (58) to 2006-07 (105).
"Our expectation is to make the playoffs," said Bednar, who was a Jack Adams Award finalist. "I know it's very difficult to do in the Central Division, but I feel like there's no reason why we can't be where we were last year, no reason why we can't be better as long as we all come with the right attitude and commitment. We have to raise the bar."

2. Grubauer's arrival

Colorado solidified its goaltending for the present and future with the acquisition of Philipp Grubauer in a trade from the Washington Capitals on June 22 for a second-round pick (No. 47) in the 2018 NHL Draft. Grubauer, who signed a three-year contract the following day, went 15-10-3 with a 2.35 goals-against average and .923 save percentage last season. Semyon Varlamov, a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2013-14, is entering the final season of a five-year contract and played well when healthy last season (24-16-6, 2.68 GAA, .920 save percentage), but he missed 18 games because of injury and illness.

3. More balanced scoring

Hart Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon and linemates Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen shouldn't have to shoulder as much of the offensive burden as they did last season, when they scored 93 of Colorado's 255 goals (36 percent). General manager Joe Sakic didn't address the issue in a trade or free agency in the offseason, choosing to put the onus on second-year forwards Alex Kerfoot, 24, and Tyson Jost, 20, to continue their development. Bednar said they are frontrunners for second-line duty with a third member to be named. Kerfoot scored 19 goals as a rookie last season, and Jost, who was Colorado's first-round pick (No. 10) in the 2016 NHL Draft, scored 12.

4. Deeper defense

Ian Cole, who signed a three-year contract July 1 as a free agent, will add veteran experience as a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins (2016, 2017) to an improved defenseman group that allowed 40 fewer goals last season (236) than in 2016-17 (276). Tyson Barrie had an NHL career-high 57 points (14 goals, 43 assists) despite missing 13 games with a broken hand. Nikita Zadorov had a breakthrough season with 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) and led the NHL with 278 hits in 77 games. Samuel Girard had 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) in 68 games as a rookie after he was acquired in a trade from the Predators on Nov. 5. Erik Johnson, who missed 20 games, led the Avalanche in average ice time (25:26) and played a strong two-way game when healthy. Patrik Nemeth was plus-27 after being claimed off waivers from the Dallas Stars on Oct. 3.

5. Become road warriors

The Avalanche were 28-11-2 at Pepsi Center, tying their record for home wins previously set by the 2000-01 Stanley Cup championship team. They were 18-4-1 in their final 23 home games, including a 5-2 win against the St. Louis Blues in the final regular-season game to clinch a playoff berth. Colorado needs to do a better job on the road, where it went 15-19-7, including 0-3-1 in its final four road games.

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut

The biggest competition in training camp involves the battle for extra forwards. Leading candidates appear to be A.J. Greer and Dominic Toninato. Greer had three assists in 17 games with Colorado last season and 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 35 games with San Antonio of the American Hockey League. Toninato had two assists in 37 games with the Avalanche and 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in 31 games with San Antonio.

Most intriguing addition

Grubauer, who played 101 games in six seasons with the Capitals as Braden Holtby's backup, will compete with Varlamov for the No. 1 goalie job. He played an NHL career-high 35 games last season, when Varlamov played 51.

Biggest potential surprise

Martin Kaut, who was selected by the Avalanche in the first round (No. 16) of the 2018 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old forward played against older competition for Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga last season and had 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 38 games.

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Ready to break through

Vladislav Kamenev, a gifted playmaker who was acquired in a trade with Nashville on Nov. 5. He has good size (6-foot-2, 194 pounds) and has scored at the AHL level with 104 points (39 goals, 65 assists) in 144 games. The 22-year-old forward had 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in 17 games with Milwaukee and San Antonio last season, but missed 50 NHL games after breaking his arm Nov. 16 against Washington in his Colorado debut.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Gabriel Landeskog - Nathan MacKinnon - Mikko Rantanen
Alexander Kerfoot -- Tyson Jost - Colin Wilson
Matt Nieto - Carl Soderberg - Matt Calvert
Sven Andrighetto -- J.T. Compher - Gabriel Bourque
Samuel Girard -- Erik Johnson
Nikita Zadorov - Tyson Barrie
Patrik Nemeth -- Ian Cole
Semyon Varlamov
Philipp Grubauer