RELATED: [Avalanche beset by injuries in first-round loss to Predators | Complete Predators vs. Avalanche series coverage]
"The whole experience of what we're going through, our youth, especially, the grind, the focus, the preparation it takes to be on your game every night, then playing in elimination games and staying with it; all these lessons we're learning, falling down, staying focused, those are things you don't forget as a player or a coach," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "The more they can learn at this time of year, the more it's going to help the future of this organization."
Nine players on the Avalanche made their postseason debut against the Predators, but outside of Game 6, they didn't look overwhelmed or outmatched in the series. They made mistakes, but they'll learn from them.
"I think it's a big experience for a lot of guys," forward Mikko Rantanen said. "We had a lot of guys who were [in their] first year in the League and it was only my second year, so [I'm] still learning some things, especially postseason. I think next year our ultimate goal is to get in the playoffs again and it's going to be easier for everybody because there was a lot of guys, including myself too, who played first [playoff] games."
The Avalanche were paced by a dynamic top line of Gabriel Landeskog (seven points; four goals, three assists in the playoffs), Nathan MacKinnon (six points; three goals, three assists) and Rantanen (four assists). MacKinnon has drawn plenty of praise for his season and will likely get Hart Trophy consideration after finishing fifth in the League with 97 points (39 goals, 58 assists).