For the Avs and Nuggets, there’s pressure to finally seize the day
Jun 7, 2021, 6:00 AM
“Wait ’til next year” is one of the oldest cliches in sports. Teams that see their season end prematurely have used it for decades as a beacon of hope.
It’s also the mantra of perpetual underachievers. Put more bluntly: It’s a loser’s lament.
That’s why two Colorado teams can’t fall into that trap in the coming days. As the Avalanche and Nuggets battle through second-round matchups, they can’t afford to defuse the pressure by thinking more chances are around the corner.
Both franchises have young, talented rosters. But on thing has been proven time and time again in sports: Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.
Sounds pessimistic? Well, it doesn’t take a history major to see that it’s true.
Two years ago, the Rockies were a contender. They were coming off of back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time in franchise history, had a bunch of young talent and seemed poised for a run of success.
Now, Nolan Arenado is gone, Trevor Story and Jon Gray may be next, and Kyle Freeland is trying to find the form of a big-league pitcher. And Jeff Bridich had bailed, leaving Colorado’s rebuild to an interim general manager and a TBD replacement.
Don’t think the same thing can happen with the Avalanche and Nuggets? Reality suggests otherwise.
At the end of this season, both teams have significant players to re-sign. It’s anything but a foregone conclusion that it will happen.
For the Avs, Gabriel Landeskog is at the top of the offseason to-do list. Colorado’s captain is an unrestricted free agent and will most likely be looking for a contract north of the one teammate Mikko Rantanen signed in September 2019. That was a six-year, $55.5 million deal.
The Avalanche also have to re-up their goaltender. Philipp Grubauer is an unrestricted free agent after the season and the Vezina Trophy finalist will have plenty of suitors. If he’s not back between the pipes, Colorado has a huge hole to fill.
Joe Sakic has already prepared the fan base for bad news this offseason. He not-so-subtly hinted at that reality early this year.
“As you see that contracts are starting to come up, we’re going to have to sign a few of our guys,” he admitted at this season’s trade deadline. “This is as deep of a team as we’re going to have here. We’re going to have get cheaper starting next year at some of those positions.”
The Nuggets situation isn’t as pressing, but it’s right around the corner. Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon will be entering the final year of their contracts next season. And Nikola Jokic is only inked for two more seasons.
That’s 75 percent of Denver’s big four that could be nearing the end of their time in the Mile High City. The odds of retaining all three are slim, although it’d be a major surprise if Jokic and/or Porter departed.
When the Nuggets lost in the second round two years ago, it seemed like they’d have plenty of opportunities in the future. Having to play in the bubble last year and losing Jamal Murray this season, however, has caused chances to evaporate. That’s two years of a four- or five-year window suddenly gone.
It’s not unrealistic that next season could be this group’s final shot. It doesn’t even feel like they’ve really gotten a fair shake yet, but their moments are already dwindling.
That’s why it would be a mistake to dismiss this year’s opportunities. There are only so many to be had.
Windows of opportunity, especially in small to mid markets, are fleeting. Just ask the Rockies.
Both the Avalanche and Nuggets have rosters that can compete for a title. But there’s no guarantee they will tomorrow.
At some point, a team has to pounce. “Carpe diem” needs to be the mantra at Ball Arena.
