TEAM EDITORIAL

The Colorado Avalanche enter the 2026 offseason in a familiar position: built around an elite core, but with several important questions still to settle before training camp. The biggest storyline is the status of Cale Makar, whose extension remains unresolved but is widely viewed as a priority for the front office. At the same time, Colorado has reshaped its depth through summer signings, with Noah Juulsen, Vinnie Hinostroza, Jaden Schwartz, Nick Blankenburg and Jack Ahcan among the notable additions or departures from the broader roster picture.

The Avalanche’s summer also reflects a deliberate effort to add versatility around Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews while keeping the blue line sturdy behind Makar. There has been buzz about younger forwards pushing for roles, which could make camp battles more competitive than in past years. Gabriel Landeskog’s status remains a key subplot as the organization continues managing his return and long-term availability.

Beyond the NHL roster, Colorado’s draft and prospect pipeline has drawn positive attention, suggesting the club is trying to balance immediate contention with longer-term depth. The season ahead begins with preseason play at home against the Utah Mammoth on September 20, giving the Avalanche a short runway to finalize roles and health before the real evaluation starts.