Since the Colorado Avalanche’s Stanley Cup win in the 2021-22 season, they’ve faced three consecutive postseason exits: twice in the first round and once in the second. This has led to frustration among some fans, with calls for changes to the coaching staff and management. Despite some wanting head coach Jared Bednar or general manager Chris MacFarland to be replaced, both are expected to remain in their positions this year.
As often happens in sports after a championship, teams lose key players due to free agency or retirement, and the Avalanche were no exception. Following their Stanley Cup victory in 2022, they saw several important players leave.
Though the team made efforts to replace those departures, none of the moves have quite brought the team back to its peak. While the loss of some key players may no longer be a primary focus, it’s impossible to ignore that a few of those players have thrived since leaving Colorado.
Nazem Kadri, a crucial contributor to the Avalanche’s 2021-22 Cup run, departed for the Calgary Flames after the championship. Over his three seasons with Colorado, Kadri tallied 58 goals and 97 assists in 178 games. He was an integral part of the team’s second-line center position, especially in faceoff situations. Since his departure, the Avalanche have experimented with several players in that role, including Casey Mittelstadt. However, Mittelstadt struggled, leading to a trade with the Boston Bruins that brought Charlie Coyle to Denver. Coyle recorded two goals and 11 assists in 19 games for the Avalanche last season.
This year, Brock Nelson has stepped into the second-line center position, though at 33 years old, the team gave up valuable draft picks and a former first-round pick, Calum Ritchie, to acquire him. Given the challenges of replacing Kadri’s impact, it’s clear the Avalanche likely regret not extending him, especially after their three failed attempts to return to the Stanley Cup Final.
Another key loss was Darcy Kuemper, the former goaltender who was a key figure in the Avalanche’s success before moving on to the Washington Capitals and later being traded to the Los Angeles Kings. Kuemper posted a 37-12 record with a .921 save percentage and a 2.54 GAA during the regular season in 2021-22. He played through an eye injury during the playoffs, finishing with a .902 save percentage and a 2.57 GAA, the second-best of his career.
Kuemper has continued to impress, having a standout 2024-25 season with a 31-11 record, a .922 save percentage, and a 2.02 GAA. He is now a Vezina Trophy finalist, alongside Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
