Having a decade at Colorado sports coming to a close, The Denver Post has a look at the top players in 2010 through 2019 for each of Denver’s important specialist franchises. This ’s the Avalanche’s team:
Forwards
Colorado Avalanche Mikko Rantanen (96), Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Gabriel Landeskog (92) celebrate a goal from the Vegas Golden Knights throughout the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Las Vegas.
W Gabe Landeskog
Years: 2011-present
Key statistics: Leads Avs in games (602) and intentions (186) and No. 2 in points (431) for its decade.
Comment: Went straight from major-junior to the NHL, not playing at the minors and becoming the youngest captain in NHL history at that moment in 2012.
Years: 2013-present
Key statistics: No. 1 in decade in points (458), points per game (.92), power-play targets (52) and also power-play points (142).
Opinion: The No. 1 pick of this 2013 draft has become a generational gift, considered one of the very best right-shot shooters in the league and also one of the top-five forwards. His strong skating stride makes him the envy of the league along with Connor McDavid.
W Mikko Rantanen
Years: 2015-present
Key statistics: No. 12 in games played (262) however sixth in points (235). The 23-year-old is second in points per game (.90).
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Opinion: Somehow the top European prospect fell to the Avalanche together with the 10th pick of the 2015 draft. He’s a continuing all-star who is fourth on his draft course in points behind McDavid, Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner.
W Ryan O’Reilly
Years: 2010-15
Statistics: No. 7 in games played (385) and points (228).
Opinion: Became the Avs’ second Lady Bing Trophy winner after committing just one penalty and scoring a career-high 28 targets — playing a broken stick. The 2019 Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy winner was a complete player in Colorado.
C Paul Stastny
Years: 2010-14
Statistics: No. 5 in points (234) and third in points per game (.77).
Comment: A great two-way player from DU, Stastny played the last four of his eight seasons with the Avs within the years.
W Matt Duchene
Years: 2010-17
Statistics: No. 2 in games played (167) and No. 3 in points (401) and assists (234).
Opinion: Considered a franchise player upon being selected third overall in the 2009 draft, Duchene has been the Avs’ top-line center until a couple years later Nathan MacKinnon joined the fray in 2013.
W Jarome Iginla
Years: 2014-17
Statistics: No. 5 in power-play targets (25) and No. 10 in points (124).
Comment: While approaching his 40th birthday, the upcoming Hall of Famer scored 29, 22 and eight goals in his three seasons with the Avs.
C John Mitchell
Years: 2012-17
Statistics: No. 8 in games played (326) and No. 12 in points (106).
Opinion: An ideal third-line center and quite a good player.
W Milan Hejduk
Years: 2010-13
Statistics: No. 10 in assists (74) and No. 11 in points (122) despite playing in just 181 of his 1,020 livelihood games in the years.
Opinion: Became the first time Avalanche player to have his number retired on Jan. 6, 2018; a first-team 2000-09 all-decade member.
W Cody McLeod
Years: 2010-17
Statistics: Amassed Avs-most 1,007 penalty moments in 495 games in the decade.
Comment: A bold fourth-line winger and middleweight enforcer who played in all 82 regular-season games twice and functioned as an alternate captain.
C Carl Soderberg
Years: 2015-19
Statistics: No. 9 in points (199) and helps.
Opinion: Three-time PHWA Colorado chapter nominee for the Masterton Trophy for the NHL player who exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to baseball. Soderberg is blind in one eye.
W Blake Comeau
Years: 2015-18
Statistics: Avs-high six shorthanded goals and No. 14 in points (90).
Opinion: Another forwards signed.
Defensemen
Andy Cross, The Denver PostColorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson (6) fires the puck and scores on Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) from the first stage at the Pepsi Center Feb. 05, 2019.
Erik Johnson
Years: 2010-present
Statistics: Approaching No. 2 in games played 542 (Duchene has 544) and second in points among defenders (202).
Years: 2011-19
Statistics: All-team top scorer one of Avalanche defenders and No. 4 total (307 points).
Opinion: High-risk, high-reward blue-liner has been an up icehockey.
John-Michael Liles
Years: 2010-11
Statistics: No. 3 in scoring one of defenders (63 points) and also third in assists (54).
Comment: Played one of his seven seasons with Colorado last past decade but his stats suggest he should be included; a bona fide 2000-2009 all-decade member.
Years: 2015-present
Statistics: No. 4 among defenders in games-played (257) and ninth in points (51).
Opinion: The 6-foot-6 shutdown defenseman is really a significant hit waiting to happen.
Years: 2013-2016
Statistics: No. 4 among defenders in points (61) and fifth in games-played (214).
Opinion: A low-key free-agent inclusion who averaged 20:19 a game using the Avs.
Jan Hejda
Years: 2011-15
Statistics: No. 3 one of defenders in games-played (286).
Opinion: Reached at least 78 games in three of his four seasons and averaged 20:58 in ice time.
Goaltenders
David Zalubowski, The Associated PressColorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov corrects his glove in a time out from the Vegas Golden Knights in the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, in Denver.
Semyon Varlamov
Years: 2011-19
Statistics: No. 1 in games played (389) and wins (183).
Opinion: He is Colorado’s just goalie to reach 100 games and 100 wins this decade.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere
Years: 2011-14
Statistics: No. 2 in wins (31).
Opinion: Signed as a free agent to rear up Varlamov, Giguere was at times the go-to guy with the Avs.
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