Colorado Avalanche

The **Colorado Avalanche** are a team in the National Hockey League. They compete in the Western Conference. They won the Stanley Cup in their first season.

## History

The Colorado Avalanche were founded in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques and were one of the charter franchises of the World Hockey Association.

The franchise joined the NHL in 1979 as a result of the NHL–WHA merger. Following the 1994–95 season, they were sold to the COMSAT Entertainment Group and relocated to Denver.

### 1995–96: First year, first Stanley Cup

After buying the team, COMSAT organized its Denver sports franchises under a separate subsidiary, Ascent Entertainment Group Inc., which went public in 1995, with 80% of its stock bought by COMSAT and the other 20% available on NASDAQ.

The Avalanche played their first game in the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver (where the Denver Nuggets also played) on October 6, 1995, winning 3–2 against the Detroit Red Wings. Valeri Kamensky scored the first goal as the Avalanche.

Led by captain Joe Sakic, forward Peter Forsberg and defenseman Adam Foote on the ice, Pierre Lacroix as the general manager and Marc Crawford as the head coach. The team became stronger when All-Star Montreal Canadiens goalie Patrick Roy joined the team.

Feeling humiliated for being left in the net after having let in nine goals in 26 shots during a Canadiens game against the Red Wings, Roy joined the Avalanche on December 6, 1995, together with ex-Montreal captain Mike Keane in a trade for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Ručinsky and Andrei Kovalenko. Roy would prove a pivotal addition for Colorado in the years to come.

The Avalanche finished the regular season with a 47–25–10 record for 104 points, won the Pacific Division and finished second in the Western Conference.

Colorado progressed to the playoffs, defeating the Vancouver Canucks and the Chicago Blackhawks in the first two rounds, both in six games and the Presidents' Trophy-winning Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Finals in six games as well.

In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Avalanche met the Florida Panthers, who were also in their first Finals.

The Avalanche swept the series 4–0.

In Game 4, during the third overtime and after more than 100 minutes of play with no goals, defenseman Uwe Krupp scored to claim the franchise's first Stanley Cup.

Joe Sakic was the playoff's scoring leader with 34 points (18 goals and 16 assists) and won the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player to his team during the playoffs.

The 1995–96 Stanley Cup was the first major professional championship won by a Denver team and the Avalanche are the only team (expansion or brand new) in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup their first season after a relocation, and only the second team to win a championship their first season after a relocation in any of the four major North American sports leagues, following the Washington Redskins of the NFL. They also became the second team from the WHA to win the Cup.

With the Cup win, Russians Alexei Gusarov & Valeri Kamensky and Swede Peter Forsberg became members of the Triple Gold Club, the exclusive group of ice hockey players who have won Olympic gold, World Championship gold, and the Stanley Cup.

### 1996–2000: Early success

In the 1996–97 season, Colorado won the Pacific Division, as well as the Presidents' Trophy for finishing the regular season with the best record in the league: 49–24–9 for 107 points. The team was also the league's best scoring with an average of 3.38 goals scored per game.

The Avalanche met the two lowest seeds of the Western Conference in the first two rounds of the playoffs: the Chicago Blackhawks & the Edmonton Oilers, and defeated them in six games and five games, respectively.

During a rematch of the previous year Western Conference Finals, the Avalanche lost to the Detroit Red Wings in six games. Detroit went on to sweep the Stanley Cup Finals just as the Avalanche had done the year before.

Sandis Ozolinsh was elected for the league's first All-Star team at the end of the season.

As a free agent during the summer of 1997, Joe Sakic signed a three-year, $21 million offer sheet with the New York Rangers.

Under the collective bargaining agreement at the time, the Avalanche had one week to match the Rangers' offer or let go of Sakic. Colorado would match the offer which instigated a salary raise for NHL players.

In the following season, Colorado won the Pacific Division with a 39–26–17 record for 95 points.

The Avalanche sent the largest delegation of the NHL to the 1998 Winter Olympics ice hockey tournament in Nagano, Japan: 10 players representing seven countries and coach Marc Crawford for Canada. Milan Hejduk won the gold medal for Czech Republic, Alexei Gusarov & Valeri Kamensky got the silver medal for Russia and Jari Kurri won the bronze medal for Finland.

Colorado lost in the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Edmonton Oilers in seven games, after having led the series 3–1.

Peter Forsberg was the league's second highest scorer in the regular season with 91 points (25 goals and 66 assists) and was elected for the league's first all star team.

After the end of the season, head coach Marc Crawford rejected the team's offer of a two-year deal. Bob Hartley was hired to the head coach position in June of 1998.

In the 1998–99 season, with the addition of the Nashville Predators to the league, the NHL realigned their divisions and the Colorado Avalanche were put in the new Northwest Division. Despite a slow 2–6–1 start, they finished with a 44–28–10 record for 98 points, won the Northwest Division and finished second in the Western Conference.

Between January 10 and February 7, 1999, the Avalanche had their longest winning streak ever with 12 games.

Following the Columbine High School massacre, Colorado postponed their first two playoff games to a later date; they would wear patches in honor of the Columbine victims on their jerseys during the playoffs.

After defeating both the San Jose Sharks and the Detroit Red Wings in six games in the first two rounds, Colorado met the Presidents' Trophy-winning Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Finals, where they lost in seven games.

Peter Forsberg, the playoffs leading scorer with 24 points (8 goals and 16 assists) was again elected to the league's first All-Star team and Chris Drury won the Calder Memorial Trophy for the best rookie of the season. Together with Milan Hejduk, both of them were elected for the NHL All-Rookie Team at the end of the season.

It was in the 1999–2000 season that the Colorado Avalanche played their first game in the new Pepsi Center that cost US$160 million. Milan Hejduk scored the first goal of a 2–1 victory against the Boston Bruins on October 13, 1999.

The Avalanche finished the season with a 42–28–11–1 record for 96 points and won the Northwest Division. Before the playoffs, the Avalanche strengthened their defense for a run towards the Stanley Cup.

On March 6, 2000, the Boston Bruins traded future Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque & forward Dave Andreychuk to Colorado for Brian Rolston, Martin Grenier, Samuel Pahlsson and a first round draft pick.

Bourque (who had been a Bruin since 1979) requested a trade to a contender for a chance to win the Stanley Cup. However, and just as the year before, Colorado lost in the Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars in a seven games after beating the Phoenix Coyotes and Detroit Red Wings in five games.

The Avalanche's success came amid considerable turmoil in the front office. COMSAT's diversification into sports ownership was proving a drain on the company. In particular, cost overruns associated with the construction of Pepsi Center had shareholders up in arms.

Finally, in 1997, COMSAT agreed in principle to sell Ascent to Liberty Media. However, Liberty was not interested in sports ownership at the time (though it has since bought MLB's Atlanta Braves), and made the deal contingent upon Ascent selling the Avalanche and Nuggets.

After almost two years, Ascent sold the Avalanche and Nuggets to Wal-Mart heirs Bill and Nancy Laurie for $400 million. However, a group of Ascent shareholders sued, claiming that the sale price was several million dollars too low. Ascent then agreed to sell the Avalanche and Nuggets to Denver banking tycoon Donald Sturm for $461 million.

However, a new wrinkle appeared when the City of Denver refused to transfer the parcel of land on which Pepsi Center stood unless Sturm promised to keep the Avalanche and Nuggets in Denver for at least 25 years.

Sturm had made his bid in his own name, and the City wanted to protect itself in case Sturm either died or sold the teams before the 25 years ran out.

While Sturm was willing to make a long-term commitment to the city, he wasn't willing to be held responsible if he died or sold the teams. After negotiations fell apart, Liberty bought all of Ascent, but kept the Nuggets and Avalanche on the market.

Finally, in July of 2000, the Avalanche, Nuggets and Pepsi Center were finally bought by real estate entrepreneur Stan Kroenke in a $450 million deal and Liberty retained only a 6.5% stake of the sports franchises.

As part of the deal, Kroenke placed the teams into a trust that would ensure the teams will stay in Denver until at least 2025. After the deal, Kroenke organized his sports assets under Kroenke Sports Enterprises.

### 2000–01: Second Stanley Cup

The 2000–01 season was the best season the team has ever had due to phenomenal play by all-time leading scorer in Avalanche history, Joe Sakic.

The Avalanche won the Northwest Division and captured their second Presidents' Trophy after having finished the regular season with 52–16–10–4 for 118 points. Sakic finished the regular season with 118 points (54 goals and 64 assists), only three behind Jaromir Jagr's 121 points.

On February 4, 2001, the Avalanche hosted the 51st NHL All-Star Game. Patrick Roy, Ray Bourque and Joe Sakic played for the North America team who won 14–12 against the World team, that featured Milan Hejduk and Peter Forsberg. All but Hejduk were part of the starting lineups.

Before the playoffs, the Avalanche acquired star defenseman Rob Blake & center Steven Reinprecht from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller and their first round 2001 NHL Entry Draft pick.

In the playoffs, Colorado swept their Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Vancouver Canucks. In the Western Conference Semifinals, they defeated the Los Angeles Kings in seven games, after having wasted a 3–1 lead.

After the last game of the series, Peter Forsberg underwent surgery to remove a ruptured spleen and it was announced that he would not play until the following season. The injury was a huge upset for the team; former NHL goaltender Darren Pang considered it "*devastating... to the Colorado Avalanche*."

The team would overcome Forsberg's injury; in the Western Conference Finals, Colorado beat the St. Louis Blues 4–1 and progressed to the Stanley Cup Finals where they faced the defending champion New Jersey Devils.

The Avalanche came back from a 3–2 series deficit and won the series 4–3, marking the second year in a row that defending champions lost in the Finals as the Devils themselves defeated the Dallas Stars in 2000.

After being handed the Cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, captain Joe Sakic immediately turned and gave it to Ray Bourque, capping off Bourque's 22-year career with his only championship.

Sakic was the playoffs' leading scorer with 26 points (13 goals and 13 assists).

He won the Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the league's most valuable player during the regular season; the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player that has shown the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with performance in play; the Lester B. Pearson Award; and shared the NHL Plus/Minus Award (with Patrik Elias of the New Jersey Devils).

Patrick Roy won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs.

Shjon Podein was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for significant humanitarian contributions to his community, namely his work on charitable organizations and his own children foundation.

Ray Bourque & Joe Sakic were elected to the league's first All-Star team. Rob Blake was elected to the second All-Star team.

### 2001–2004: Stanley Cup drought

In the 2001–02 season, the team finished the regular season with 99 points from a 45–28–8–1 record and won the Northwest Division. Colorado had the league's lowest goals conceded: 169, an average of 2.06 per game. The NHL season was interrupted once again for the 2002 Winter Olympics, in Salt Lake City.

The Avalanche had nine players representing six countries. Canada won the ice hockey tournament and Rob Blake, Adam Foote and Joe Sakic won gold medals. American Chris Drury got a silver medal. With the win, Blake and Sakic became members of the Triple Gold Club.

The Avalanche advanced through the first two rounds of the playoffs winning 4–3 against the Los Angeles Kings and 4–3 against the San Jose Sharks. Patrick Roy had a shutout on the decisive game of each series.

The Avalanche made the Western Conference Finals for the fourth consecutive season (and sixth overall in the last seven seasons), meeting the Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs for the fifth time in seven years. Colorado had a 3–2 lead after five games, but lost Game 6 at home 2–0 and then the Red Wings won the deciding game at Detroit, 7–0.

Just like in 1997, Detroit went on to win the Stanley Cup. Peter Forsberg was the playoffs scoring leader with 27 points (9 goals, 18 assists).

Patrick Roy won the William M. Jennings Trophy, given to the goaltenders of the team with fewest goals scored against. Roy was elected for the league's first All-Star team, together with Joe Sakic. Rob Blake was elected for the second All-Star team.

In the 2002–03 season, the Avalanche claimed the NHL record for most consecutive division titles (nine) breaking the Montreal Canadiens streak of eight, won between 1974–82.

The division title came after a bad start by the team, that led to the exit of head coach Bob Hartley, in December.

General Manager Pierre Lacroix promoted assistant coach Tony Granato, who had only three months of coaching experience as an assistant, to the head coach position.

The team's playoff spot seemed in doubt at one point, but the Avalanche managed to finish with 105 points, ahead of the Vancouver Canucks by one.

The race to the title was exciting, namely the second-to-last game of the season as the Avalanche needed to win the game to stay in the race, and Milan Hejduk scored with 10 seconds left in overtime to beat Anaheim.

The title was guaranteed in the final day of the regular season, when the Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 5–2 and the Vancouver Canucks lost against the Los Angeles Kings 2–0.

In the Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Avalanche blew a 3–1 series lead over the Minnesota Wild, and lost in overtime in Game 7.

Peter Forsberg won the Art Ross Trophy for the leading scorer of the regular season, which he finished with 106 points (29 goals, 77 assists). He also won the Hart Memorial Trophy for the regular season's most valuable player and shared the NHL Plus/Minus Award with teammate Milan Hejduk.

Hejduk scored 50 goals to win the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy (which is awarded annually to the leading goal scorer in the NHL).

Forsberg was elected to the league's first All-Star team while Hejduk was elected to the second All-Star team.

After that season, Patrick Roy retired and the Avalanche signed star wingers Paul Kariya from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Teemu Selanne from the San Jose Sharks.

Both failed to live up to the expectations; Kariya spent most of the 2003–04 season injured and Selanne scored only 32 points (16 goals and 16 assists) in 78 games. There were doubts if goalie David Aebischer could perform at the top level the team was used to while having Roy.

Having "nine elite players," "the most talented top six forwards on one team since the days of the Edmonton Oilers" was not good enough as the franchise failed to win the Northwest Division title, ending the NHL record streak.

The 40–22–13–7 record was good enough for 100 points, one less than the Northwest Division champion Vancouver Canucks. This ended a streak of nine consecutive division titles dating to the team's last year in Quebec, the most in NHL history.

During a game against the Canucks on March 8, 2004, Canucks player Todd Bertuzzi punched Colorado's Steve Moore from behind, leaving Moore unconscious. It was said to be retaliation for a hit Moore had delivered to Canucks captain Markus Naslund the previous month.

Because of the punch and the consequent fall on the ice with Bertuzzi on top of him, and numerous other players from both teams piling on top, Moore sustained three fractured neck vertebrae, among other injuries, that ended his career. Bertuzzi was away from professional hockey for 17 months as a result of suspensions.

In Denver, ever since the Moore hit, it has become tradition for the home fans to boo Todd Bertuzzi every time he gains possession of the puck whenever his team faces the Avalanche at Pepsi Center.

In the playoffs, Colorado won the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Dallas Stars in five games, but lost in the Western Conference Semifinals against the San Jose Sharks in a six games.

Joe Sakic became the only Avalanche player ever to be chosen as the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player during the 2004 NHL All-Star Game when he scored a hat-trick. Sakic was elected for the league's first All-Star team at the end of the season and won the NHL/Sheraton Road Performer Award.

After the end of the season in July of 2004, Joel Quenneville was hired for the position of head coach, replacing Tony Granato, who became his assistant.

The 2004–05 NHL season was canceled because of an unresolved lockout. During the lockout, many Avalanche players played in European leagues.

David Aebischer returned home with Alex Tanguay to play for Swiss club HC Lugano; Milan Hejduk & Peter Forsberg returned to their former teams in their native countries, HC Pardubice and Modo Hockey.

Nine other players from the Avalanche's 2003–04 roster played in Europe during the lockout.

### 2005–2009: New beginnings

After the 2004–05 NHL lockout and the implementation of a salary cap, the Avalanche were forced to release some of their top players.

Peter Forsberg & Adam Foote were lost to free agency to save room in the cap for Joe Sakic & Rob Blake.

Although the salary cap was a blow to one of the highest spenders of the league, the Colorado Avalanche finished the 2005–06 regular season with a 43–30–9 record for 95 points, good enough to finish second in the Northwest Division, seven behind the Calgary Flames and tied with the Edmonton Oilers.

The season paused in February for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The Avalanche sent an NHL leading 11 players from eight countries. Finnish Antti Laaksonen earned the silver medal while Ossi Vaananen ended up not playing because of an injury; Czech Milan Hejduk won a bronze medal.

In the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Colorado beat the team with the second-best record in the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars in five games.

In the Conference Semi-finals, the Avalanche were swept for the first time ever, coming at the hands of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

The day after the loss, Pierre Lacroix (who had been the general manager of the franchise since 1994 when they were in Quebec) resigned and Francois Giguere was hired as his replacement.

Lacroix remained president of the franchise until the Spring of 2013, when the team owner's son, Josh Kroenke, took over as team president and governor. Pierre Lacroix remains an advisor to the team.

By the beginning of the 2006–07 season, Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk were the only two remaining members from the 2000–01 Stanley Cup-winning squad.

Sakic was the only player left from the team's days in Quebec even though Hejduk was drafted by the Nordiques. Paul Stastny (the son of Nordiques legend Peter Stastny) also provided a link to the franchise's past.

Before the previous season's playoffs, in a move reminiscent of Patrick Roy's trade, the Avalanche traded goalie David Aebischer to the Montreal Canadiens for the Vezina Trophy-winning Jose Theodore.

However, the move would not turn out to be as successful.

Theodore posted a 13–15–1 record in the 2006–07 season with an .891 save percentage and 3.26 goals against average (GAA) along with his US$6 million salary becoming a heavy burden for the Avalanche in the salary cap era.

The Avalanche missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993–94, when they were still in Quebec. The team had a 15–2–2 run in the last 19 games of the season to keep their playoffs hopes alive until the penultimate day of the season.

A 4–2 loss against the Nashville Predators on April 7, 2007 with former Av Peter Forsberg assisting the game-winning goal scored by another former Avalanche player, Paul Kariya, knocked Colorado out of the playoff race.

As consolation, the team won the last game of the season against the Calgary Flames the following day and finished fourth in the Northwest Division and ninth in the Western Conference with a 44–31–7 record for 95 points, one less than eighth-seeded Calgary.

Nonetheless, the result was greater than expected by hockey pundits; Sports Illustrated previewed before the start of the season that the Avalanche would finish 13th in the Western Conference.

During that last game of the season, Joe Sakic scored a goal and two assists and became the second-oldest player in NHL history to reach 100 points, behind only Gordie Howe, who had 103 points at age 40 in the 1968–69 season.

During the season, Paul Stastny set an NHL record for longest point streak by a rookie, with 20 games which was three more than the previous record, held by Teemu Selanne and Karlis Skrastins set a new NHL record for the longest game streak by a defenseman with 495 games.

Until the Avalanche's 2006–07 season, no team in the history of the NHL had ever made it to 95 points without earning a spot in the playoffs.

In the Eastern Conference, three teams progressed to the playoffs with fewer than 95 points: the New York Rangers (94), the Tampa Bay Lightning (93) and the New York Islanders (92).

For the 2007–08 season, the Avalanche signed two free agents: defenseman Scott Hannan and left winger Ryan Smyth. These acquisitions filled the team's needs and were expected to help make an impact in the playoffs.

With a 9–5 victory over the St. Louis Blues on December 9, 2007, the Avalanche earned their 1,000th franchise victory. On February 25, 2008, unrestricted free agent Peter Forsberg signed with the Avalanche for the remainder of the 2007–08 season.

A day later, at the trade deadline, they re-acquired popular defenseman Adam Foote from the Columbus Blue Jackets as well as Ruslan Salei from the Florida Panthers.

In the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Colorado beat the Minnesota Wild in six games.

In the Western Conference Semi-finals, however, the Avalanche were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.

On May 9, 2008, the Colorado Avalanche Organization announced that Joel Quenneville would not return to coach the team next season. Two weeks later, Tony Granato was named head coach of the Avalanche for the second time.

The 2008–09 season was the worst season the Avalanche had since moving to Denver.

Posting a record of 32–45–5, finishing 15th in the Western Conference (28th overall), and recording the fewest amount of points since their days in Quebec during the 1979–80 season. The Avalanche missed the post-season for the second time in three seasons.

It would be the first time in Avalanche history the team's top scorer would score less than 70 points on the season as Milan Hejduk and Ryan Smyth would register only 59 points each.

Captain Joe Sakic played a career low 15 games, notching just two goals and ten assists. The team's 199 goals was a league low.

On April 13, 2009, just one day after the end of the season, the Avalanche relieved Francois Giguere of his general manager duties. They would go on to receive the highest draft pick in Avalanche history, third overall. That pick turned out to be Brampton Battalion star Matt Duchene.

### 2009–2013: Team Rebuilding

In the 2009 off-season, the Avalanche named Greg Sherman the new general manager and Joe Sacco the new head coach.

The following month, top scorer Ryan Smyth was traded to the Los Angeles Kings and Joe Sakic, the only team captain the Avs had ever known, retired after 21 seasons in the NHL. The team named Adam Foote team captain to replace him.

Sakic's jersey retirement ceremony took place on October 1, 2009, before the season opener at home against the San Jose Sharks in front of a sold out crowd where the Avalanche won 5–2. The Avalanche started the season off strong until the Olympic break.

Three Avs played in Vancouver: Paul Stastny for the United States, Ruslan Salei for Belarus and Peter Budaj for Slovakia.

Following the Winter Olympics, the Avalanche struggled but eventually clinched a playoff spot with 95 points on the season, a 26-point improvement from the previous year's effort, and good enough for eighth place in the Western Conference.

The Avalanche fell in the Western Conference Quarterfinals to the top-seeded San Jose Sharks in six games.

The 2010 off-season proved limited activity on the team's part. Stan Kroenke bought full ownership in the St. Louis Rams of the NFL in 2010.

Since the NFL does not allow its owners to hold majority control of major-league teams in other NFL cities, Kroenke turned over day-to-day control of the Denver Nuggets and Avalanche to his son Josh toward the end of 2010 and must sell his controlling interest in both teams by 2014.

After an impressive underdog triumph in making the playoffs in 2010, and Joe Sacco finishing third in Jack Adams Trophy voting, the Avalanche failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2011.

Earning only 68 points in the standings, setting a franchise record for losing and winless streaks after the All-Star break, the Avalanche have seen their worst season yet since moving to Denver which was one point less than their previous worst season in the 2008–09 season.

They finished 29th in the 30-team NHL, besting only their division mates, the Edmonton Oilers.

Matt Duchene set a franchise record as the youngest scoring leader in Quebec/Colorado history with 67 points, sharing the club goals-leader title with David Jones, each with 27 tallies.

Former Avalanche goaltender great Peter Forsberg attempted a comeback in the NHL with Colorado mid-season. However, after two games, zero points and compiling a plus-minus rating of –4, he announced his retirement from professional hockey.

Captain Adam Foote also retired after the final game of the season.

In the off-season, Colorado had two first-round picks.

Present at the draft, former Avalanche great Joe Sakic served his first duties as new alternate governor and adviser of hockey operations of the club.

With their first pick, second overall, they selected Gabriel Landeskog, the young captain of the Kitchener Rangers.

Second, they selected defenseman Duncan Siemens 11th overall, a pick acquired from the St. Louis Blues in the controversial trade that sent power-forward Chris Stewart, long time top prospect Kevin Shattenkirk and a second round pick to the Blues in exchange for their first round pick, veteran Jay McClement & 2006 former first overall pick, Erik Johnson.

A complete overhaul at the goaltending position sent Peter Budaj to the Montreal Canadiens and Brian Elliott to St. Louis, Elliott having been acquired from the Ottawa Senators for Craig Anderson during the team's downward spiral the season previous.

Goalie Semyon Varlamov was dealt to Colorado from the Washington Capitals for a first and second pick, while veteran netminder and former Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jean-Sebastien Giguere was signed as a free agent in hopes to mentor the young Varlamov.

Duncan Siemens was sent back to his major junior team, the Saskatoon Blades in camp while Gabriel Landeskog made the opening night roster against the Detroit Red Wings on October 8, 2011, at Pepsi Center.

Adam Deadmarsh was promoted from video/developmental coach to offensive assistant coach after Steve Konowalchuk accepted a job as head coach in the minor league.

Peter Forsberg's number 21 became the fourth jersey number retired by the Avs on opening night, a contest Colorado would lose to Detroit 3–0. Colorado redeemed themselves in game two of the season on October 10, 2011, against the 2011 Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins.

Varlamov negated all 30 shots registered by Boston and posted the fifth shutout of his career and first win as an Avalanche in the regular season. Milan Hejduk scored the game-winning goal and first goal of the season for the club in a 1–0 victory over the defending champions.

In April of 2012, The Avalanche were eliminated from playoff contention and finished 11th place in the Western Conference.

Despite a 20-point improvement from last season's efforts, the team failed to reach the playoffs for the second straight year, the first time the Colorado club would do so in their 17 years playing in Denver.

Head coach Joe Sacco signed a two-year contract extension shortly after the end of the season. Stand out rookie Gabriel Landeskog overtook Matt Duchene as the youngest in franchise history to lead the team in goals, scoring 22 in 82 games.

Having resigned most of their free agents, the club wouldn't see much change in the 2012 off-season (with the exception of losing unrestricted free agents Peter Mueller, Jay McClement and Kevin Porter.

Colorado would add Greg Zanon, John Mitchell and high scoring winger P.A. Parenteau to its roster.

Gabriel Landeskog, the Avs' lone representative at the 2012 NHL Awards, walked away with the Calder Memorial Trophy, joining Chris Drury, Peter Forsberg and Peter Stastny for earning top rookie honors for the Avalanche.

On September 4, 2012, Gabriel Landeskog was named the fourth captain of the Avalanche. Former captain Milan Hejduk relinquished his captaincy a week earlier.

At 19 years and 286 days old, Landeskog is the youngest captain in NHL history, being 11 days younger than when Sidney Crosby was named captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins at 19 years and 297 days.

### 2013–2016: The Return of Patrick Roy

After a disappointing 2012–13 season which saw the Colorado Avalanche finish 15th in the Western Conference and 29th overall in the League, it was announced on April 28, 2013, that Head Coach Joe Sacco had been relieved of his duties.

On May 10, 2013, it was announced that former long-time Avalanche captain and Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Sakic is set to take on an expanded role in Avalanche management, being named executive vice president of hockey operations, overseeing all matters involving hockey personnel.

It was also announced that Josh Kroenke (the son of owner Stan Kroenke) is now president of the Avalanche, succeeding Pierre Lacroix.

On May 23, 2013, Patrick Roy returned to the Avalanche as head coach and vice president of hockey operations.

Although Sherman retained his role as general manager, he was largely reduced to an advisory role. Roy and Sakic now share most of the duties held by a general manager on most other NHL teams (even though Sakic has the final say on hockey matters\_.

Under Roy in the 2013–14 season, the Avalanche returned to the playoffs, finishing first in the Central Division and second in the Western Conference, but they would lose a seven-game series to the Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Nonetheless, for his outstanding job as a first-year coach, Roy won the Jack Adams Award for the League's top coaching honors.

Just prior to the start of the 2014–15 season, Sakic was given the title of general manager while Sherman was demoted to assistant general manager, thus formalizing the de facto arrangement that had been in place since 2013.

Despite the front office changes, the Avalanche failed to qualify for the 2015 playoffs after finishing with a record of 39–31–12, resulting in a seventh-place finish in the Central Division.

On August 11, 2016, after failing to qualify for the playoffs again following the 2015–16 season, Roy resigned from his head coaching and vice president of hockey operations positions with the team.

### 2016–present

Following the departure of Roy, the Avalanche hired Jared Bednar (from the Calder Cup champions, the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League) as head coach.

On December 10, 2016, the Avalanche allowed 10 goals in a 10–1 loss to the Canadiens.

The Avalanche closed out their season with a record of 22–56–4, resulting in a franchise-low 48 points and a last-place finish in the league; this was the worst record of any team in the NHL since the Atlanta Thrashers finished with a record of 14–61–7 and 39 points in the 1999–2000 season (which was their first season in the league).

## Coaching History

* 1995-1998: Marc Crawford
* 1998-2002: Bob Hartley
* 2002-2004: Tony Granato
* 2005-2008: Joel Quenneville
* 2008-2009: Tony Granato
* 2009-2013: Joe Sacco
* 2013-2016: Patrick Roy
* 2016-Present: Jared Bednar

## Facts

* Location: Denver, Colorado
* Arena: Pepsi Center

## Players

* Chris Drury
* Adam Foote
* Peter Forsberg
* Milan Hejduk
* Patrick Roy
* Joe Sakic