2018–19 Colorado Avalanche season

The 2018–19 Colorado Avalanche season was the 40th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 22, 1979, and 23rd season since the franchise relocated from Quebec prior to the start of the 1995–96 NHL season. On April 4, 2019, the Avalanche clinched a playoff spot after a 3–2 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets. In the playoffs, the Avalanche defeated the Calgary Flames 4–1 in the First Round to secure their first playoff series win since 2008. Their season, however, would come to an end after losing to the San Jose Sharks in seven games in the second round.
==Standings==
===Divisional standings===
===Conference standings===
==Schedule and results==
===Preseason===
The preseason schedule was published on June 13, 2018.
2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Recap
1 	September 18 	Vegas 	5–1 	Colorado 	 	Varlamov 	— 	0–1–0 	Recap
2 	September 22 	Colorado 	0–7 	Minnesota 	 	Grubauer 	18,410 	0–2–0 	Recap
3 	September 24 	Colorado 	5–3 	Vegas 	 	Francouz 	17,880 	1–2–0 	Recap
4 	September 26 	Dallas 	3–1 	Colorado 	 	Varlamov 	— 	1–3–0 	Recap
5 	September 28 	Minnesota 	3–4 	Colorado 	OT 	Grubauer 	— 	2–3–0 	Recap
6 	September 30 	Colorado 	6–5 	Dallas 	 	Varlamov 	12,211 	3–3–0 	Recap
===Regular season===
The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018.
2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log
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October: 7–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1)	October: 7–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1)	October: 7–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1)	October: 7–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1)	October: 7–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1)	October: 7–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1)	October: 7–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1)	October: 7–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1)	October: 7–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1)	October: 7–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1)	October: 7–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Pts 	Recap
1 	October 4 	Minnesota 	1–4 	Colorado 	 	Varlamov 	18,086 	1–0–0 	2 	Recap
2 	October 6 	Philadelphia 	2–5 	Colorado 	 	Varlamov 	16,768 	2–0–0 	4 	Recap
3 	October 9 	Colorado 	2–5 	Columbus 	 	Grubauer 	11,694 	2–1–0 	4 	Recap
4 	October 11 	Colorado 	6–1 	Buffalo 	 	Varlamov 	15,396 	3–1–0 	6 	Recap
5 	October 13 	Calgary 	3–2 	Colorado 	OT 	Varlamov 	17,334 	3–1–1 	7 	Recap
6 	October 16 	Colorado 	2–3 	NY Rangers 	SO 	Varlamov 	17,251 	3–1–2 	8 	Recap
7 	October 18 	Colorado 	5–3 	New Jersey 	 	Grubauer 	13,374 	4–1–2 	10 	Recap
8 	October 20 	Colorado 	3–1 	Carolina 	 	Grubauer 	11,753 	5–1–2 	12 	Recap
9 	October 22 	Colorado 	4–1 	Philadelphia 	 	Varlamov 	19,326 	6–1–2 	14 	Recap
10 	October 24 	Tampa Bay 	1–0 	Colorado 	 	Varlamov 	16,753 	6–2–2 	14 	Recap
11 	October 26 	Ottawa 	3–6 	Colorado 	 	Grubauer 	16,851 	7–2–2 	16 	Recap
12 	October 27 	Colorado 	2–3 	Minnesota 	 	Varlamov 	19,093 	7–3–2 	16 	Recap
===Playoffs===
The Avalanche faced the Calgary Flames in the First Round of the playoffs, and defeated them in five games.
The Avalanche faced the San Jose Sharks in the Second Round of the playoffs, and were defeated in seven games.
2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs
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Western Conference First Round vs. (P1) Calgary Flames: Colorado won 4–1	Western Conference First Round vs. (P1) Calgary Flames: Colorado won 4–1	Western Conference First Round vs. (P1) Calgary Flames: Colorado won 4–1	Western Conference First Round vs. (P1) Calgary Flames: Colorado won 4–1	Western Conference First Round vs. (P1) Calgary Flames: Colorado won 4–1	Western Conference First Round vs. (P1) Calgary Flames: Colorado won 4–1	Western Conference First Round vs. (P1) Calgary Flames: Colorado won 4–1	Western Conference First Round vs. (P1) Calgary Flames: Colorado won 4–1	Western Conference First Round vs. (P1) Calgary Flames: Colorado won 4–1	Western Conference First Round vs. (P1) Calgary Flames: Colorado won 4–1
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Series 	Recap
1 	April 11 	Colorado 	0–4 	Calgary 	 	Grubauer 	19,289 	0–1 	Recap
2 	April 13 	Colorado 	3–2 	Calgary 	OT 	Grubauer 	19,289 	1–1 	Recap
3 	April 15 	Calgary 	2–6 	Colorado 	 	Grubauer 	18,098 	2–1 	Recap
4 	April 17 	Calgary 	2–3 	Colorado 	OT 	Grubauer 	18,102 	3–1 	Recap
5 	April 19 	Colorado 	5–1 	Calgary 	 	Grubauer 	19,289 	4–1 	Recap
==Player statistics==
Final Stats
;Skaters
Regular season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	
 	82	41	58	99	+20	34
 	74	31	56	87	+13	54
 	73	34	41	75	+17	51
 	78	14	45	59	–3 	36
 	82	23	26	49	–5 	26
 	78	15	27	42	–9 	38
 	66	16	16	32	–8 	31
 	65	12	15	27	–6 	8
 	82	4 	23	27	+8 	6
 	82	11	15	26	–10	58
 	70	11	15	26	–2 	14
 	80	7 	18	25	+8 	38
 	64	4 	19	23	+2 	8
 	64	7 	10	17	+10	14
 	71	2 	13	15	–1 	115
 	70	7 	7 	14	+19	75
 	74	1 	9 	10	+5 	53
 	55	2 	6 	8 	+3 	10
 	40	3 	3 	6 	–7 	26
 	26	3 	2 	5 	+4 	2
 	23	2 	3 	5 	–2 	10
† 	20	4 	0 	4 	–7 	8
 	15	1 	1 	2 	–2 	14
 	11	1 	1 	2 	+2 	0
 	12	1 	0 	1 	–6 	4
 	2 	1 	0 	1 	0 	0
‡ 	8 	0 	0 	0 	–1 	7
 	5 	0 	0 	0 	–2 	0
 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	2 	0 	0 	0 	–1 	0
Playoffs
Player	 	 	 	 	 	
 	12	6	8	14	–1	4
 	12	6	7	13	–4	2
 	12	4	4	8 	0 	2
 	12	3	5	8 	–2	10
 	12	1	7	8 	+1	4
 	12	4	3	7 	+6	2
 	12	4	2	6 	+1	0
 	10	1	5	6 	+3	0
 	12	0	5	5 	+6	16
 	12	3	1	4 	+3	0
 	8 	0	4	4 	+3	18
 	12	2	1	3 	–1	4
 	12	0	3	3 	–1	6
 	12	0	2	2 	+4	8
 	9 	0	2	2 	+3	0
 	12	1	0	1 	0 	2
 	9 	0	1	1 	–2	8
 	12	0	0	0 	–5	24
 	7 	0	0	0 	+4	4
 	5 	0	0	0 	–2	2
;Goaltenders
Regular season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	2 	0 	61:11 	0 	2 	0	2 	1.96	35 	.943	0	0	0	0
 	37	33	2020:44	18	9 	5	89 	2.64	1071	.917	3	0	0	0
 	49	49	2839:12	20	19	9	136	2.87	1496	.909	2	0	0	2
Playoffs
Player	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	12	12	731:47	7	5	28	2.30	373	.925	1	0	1	0
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Avalanche. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.
==Transactions==
The Avalanche have been involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.
===Trades===
Date	Details 	Details 	Ref
 	To Washington Capitals2nd-round pick in 2018 	To Colorado AvalanchePhilipp GrubauerBrooks Orpik 	
 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsNSH's 2nd-round pick in 2018	To Colorado AvalancheOTT's 3rd-round pick in 20185th-round pick in 2018	
 	To Ottawa SenatorsJ. C. Beaudin 	To Colorado AvalancheMax McCormick 	
 	To Florida Panthers3rd-round pick in 2020 	To Colorado AvalancheDerick BrassardConditional 6th-round pick in 2020 	
===Free agents===
Date	Player 	Team 	Contract term	Ref
 	Jonathan Bernier	to Detroit Red Wings 	3-year 	
 	Matt Calvert 	from Columbus Blue Jackets 	3-year 	
 	Ian Cole 	from Columbus Blue Jackets 	3-year 	
 	Blake Comeau 	to Dallas Stars 	3-year 	
 	Rocco Grimaldi 	to Nashville Predators 	1-year 	
 	Andrew Hammond 	to Minnesota Wild 	1-year 	
 	Sheldon Dries 	from Texas Stars (AHL) 	1-year 	
 	Scott Kosmachuk 	from Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)	1-year 	
 	Nail Yakupov 	to SKA Saint Petersburg (KHL)	1-year 	
 	Felix Girard 	to Manitoba Moose (AHL) 	1-year 	
 	Logan O'Connor 	from Denver Pioneers (NCHC) 	2-year 	
 	Brooks Orpik 	to Washington Capitals 	1-year 	
 	Jesse Graham 	to Utica Comets (AHL) 	1-year 	
===Waivers===
Date	Player 	Team 	Ref
 	Marko Dano	from Winnipeg Jets	
 	Marko Dano	to Winnipeg Jets 	
===Contract terminations===
Date	Player 	Via 	Ref
 	Brooks Orpik	Buyout	
===Retirement===
Date	Player	Ref
 	 	
===Signings===
Date	Player 	Contract term	Ref
 	Philipp Grubauer	3-year 	
 	Joe Cannata 	1-year 	
 	Martin Kaut 	3-year 	
 	Matt Nieto 	2-year 	
 	Mason Geertsen 	1-year 	
 	Ryan Graves 	1-year 	
 	Spencer Martin 	1-year 	
 	Patrik Nemeth 	1-year 	
 	Nick Henry 	3-year 	
 	Shane Bowers 	3-year 	
 	Cale Makar 	3-year 	
 	Adam Werner 	2-year 	
 	Pavel Francouz 	1-year 	
==Draft picks==
Below are the Colorado Avalanche's selections at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on June 22 and 23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Round	# 	Player 	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	16 	Martin Kaut 	RW 	 	Dynamo Pardubice (ELH)
3 	641 	Justus Annunen 	G 	 	Karpat U20 (Nuorten SM-liiga)
3 	78 	Sampo Ranta 	LW 	 	Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
4 	109 	Tyler Weiss 	LW 	 	U.S. NTDP (USHL)
5 	140 	Brandon Saigeon 	C 	 	Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
5 	1462	Danila Zhuravlyov	D 	 	Irbis Kazan (MHL)
6 	171 	Nikolai Kovalenko	RW 	 	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
7 	202 	Shamil Shmakov 	G 	 	Sibirskie Snaypery (MHL)
Notes:
# The Ottawa Senators' third-round pick went to the Colorado Avalanche as the result of a trade on June 23, 2018, that sent Nashville's second-round pick in 2018 (58th overall) to Pittsburgh in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2018 (146th overall) and this pick.
# The Pittsburgh Penguins' fifth-round pick went to the Colorado Avalanche as the result of a trade on June 23, 2018, that sent Nashville's second-round pick in 2018 (58th overall) to Pittsburgh in exchange for Ottawa's third-round pick in 2018 (64th overall) and this pick.
==References==
Category:Colorado Avalanche seasons
Colorado Avalanche