Avalanche forwards provide reason for optimism

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is taking a look at where each team stands. Today, the Colorado Avalanche:
Following the abrupt resignation of coach Patrick Roy on Aug. 11 and the hiring of Jared Bednar less than three weeks before training camp, the Colorado Avalanche had 48 points last season, the fewest in the NHL by 21 points.

The Avalanche have failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs three straight seasons, but there are good pieces in place at forward. Matt Duchene is a five-time 20-goal scorer, Mikko Rantanen, as a rookie, led them with 20 goals last season, Nathan MacKinnon had his second straight 50-point season, and Tyson Jost impressed in six late-season games. They also added veteran forwards Colin Wilson and Nail Yakupov, and up-and-coming prospects such as defenseman Cale Makar, the No. 4 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, provide reason for optimism.
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Here is what the Avalanche look like today:

Key arrivals

Colin Wilson, F: Acquired in a trade from the Nashville Predators on July 1, Wilson adds depth at the center position. The 27-year-old had 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in 70 games last season. He also had six power-play goals, which could help improve a man-advantage that was 30th in the League last season (12.1 percent). … Jonathan Bernier, G:The unrestricted free agent signed a one-year contract July 1 and will serve as Semyon Varlamov's backup. Given Varlamov's injury history, Bernier, 28, could see comparable usage compared to last season, when he made 33 starts with the Anaheim Ducks. Bernier was 21-7-4 with a 2.50 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and two shutouts, including a stretch between March 7 and April 9 that saw him go 11-0-2 when John Gibson was injured. ... Nail Yakupov, F: The No. 1 pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, Yakupov, 23, had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 40 games with the St. Louis Blues after being traded from the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 7. He was a healthy scratch for most of the season but will look to bounce back with the Avalanche and earn a top-six role. ... David Warsofsky, D: Signed as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, Warsofsky, 27, had one assist in seven games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, and 47 points (16 goals, 31 assists) in 58 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

Key departures

Calvin Pickard, G: The 25-year-old was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft on June 21. He was 15-31-2 in 50 games (48 starts) last season. ... Francois Beauchemin, D: The 37-year-old had the final season of his contract bought out June 15. He had 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 81 games last season. ... Mikhail Grigorenko, F: The 23-year-old signed a three-year contract with CSKA of the Kontinental Hockey League on July 7. He had 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 75 games last season. ... Patrick Wiercioch, D: The Vancouver Canucks signed Wiercioch to a one-year, $650,000 contract July 1. He had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 57 games last season. ... John Mitchell, F: The 32-year-old had seven points (three goals, four assists) and won 55.4 percent of faceoffs in 65 games last season, his fifth with the Avalanche, but is an unrestricted free agent who likely won't return. ... Fedor Tyutin, D: An unrestricted free agent, Tyutin, who turns 34 on July 19, had 13 points (one goal, two assists) and averaged 2:30 of shorthanded ice time per game, third on the Avalanche, in 69 games last season.

On the cusp

Cale Makar, D: The 18-year-old will play at the University of Massachusetts this season. He had 75 points (24 goals, 51 assists) in 54 games with Brooks in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He also was the league's best defenseman and most valuable player. ... Will Butcher, D: The 22-year-old had 37 points (seven goals, 30 assists) in 43 games, won the 2017 Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate player, and helped the University of Denver win the NCAA Division I hockey championship. The Avalanche have an Aug. 15 deadline to sign him before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. ... Cam Morrison, F: The 18-year-old was selected with the No. 40 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and had 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) as a freshman at Notre Dame last season. He projects to be a player who could add size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and a scoring touch to an offense that could use both.

What they still need

Help on defense and special teams. With Beauchemin and Wiercioch gone, Tyutin unlikely to return, and Makar likely not ready for the NHL, the Avalanche need defensemen. Tyson Barrie, Erik Johnson and Mark Barberio are the returning veterans, and Nikita Zadorov is a restricted free agent. The only defenseman added during free agency has been Warsofsky, who has 39 games of NHL experience. And in addition to the struggles on the power play, the Avalanche penalty kill was 29th last season (76.6 percent).

Pete Jensen's fantasy focus

If the Avalanche keep Barrie and Duchene this season, each player's bounce-back potential would be far less convincing than if he joined a contender. That said, standing pat could be good news for some of their young forwards with fantasy sleeper appeal, namely Rantanen and Jost. Having experienced players like Duchene in the top-six forward group and a puck-moving defenseman like Barrie could help Rantanen and Jost inject some life into the Avalanche.

Projected lineup

Sven Andrighetto -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Gabriel Landeskog -- Matt Duchene -- Tyson Jost
Nail Yakupov -- J.T. Compher -- Colin Wilson
Matt Nieto -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau
Nikita Zadorov -- Tyson Barrie
Mark Barberio -- Erik Johnson
Anton Lindholm -- David Warsofsky
Semyon Varlamov
Jonathan Bernier