Colorado is deep down the middle. Duchene, who scored 30 goals last season, is the first Colorado player with that many since Sakic (36) and Milan Hejduk (35) in 2006-07. MacKinnon, the 2014 Calder Trophy winner, had two goals and one assist in three games with Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey 2016 following back-to-back injury-plagued NHL seasons. Carl Soderberg set NHL career bests last season for assists (39) and points (51). Unrestricted free agent Joe Colborne, who had his best NHL season in 2015-16 with the Calgary Flames with 19 goals and 44 points in 73 games, could move from center to wing.
Bednar is addressing the Avalanche's biggest weaknesses, poor defensive play and puck possession, with a system that stresses quick outlet passes to the forwards and north-south play. This should help offensive-minded defensemen Barrie, Johnson and Eric Gelinas. The Avalanche will have some growing pains while 21-year-olds Chris Bigras and Nikita Zadorov gain more experience. It will help if Francois Beauchemin, 36, doesn't have to average an Avalanche-leading 25:04 of ice time per game. Unrestricted free agents Fedor Tyutin and Patrick Wiercioch were signed to add depth.
"There's no secret we have to be better defensively," right wing Jarome Iginla said. "We have to look at our shots for and against. We've been trying, but we know that needs to improve. We can't be outshot regularly. We have to get better in our zone."
The Avalanche also need to score more than the 212 non-shootout goals they had last season, tied for fewest in the Central Division.
Varlamov is capable of stealing games, much like he did three seasons ago. Calvin Pickard is expected to spend the entire season in the NHL as Varlamov's backup after splitting time between the NHL and AHL the previous two seasons.
The Avalanche's chances of making the playoffs largely will hinge on defense and goaltending. They allowed 240 non-shootout goals in 2015-16, most in the division and tied for the sixth-highest total in the NHL.
