Do any current players crack the top-10 Avalanche players of all-time?
May 12, 2022, 1:06 PM
The Avalanche have had a storied history. Since moving to Colorado in 1995, the franchise has enjoyed a ton of success.
They won a Stanley Cup at the end of their first season in Denver. Another championship came to the Mile High City five years later.
During those years, the Avs built up the longest sellout streak in NHL history, a run that ultimately ended at 487 consecutive games. That played a big part in Colorado winning eight straight division titles and making the playoffs 10 seasons in a row.
Since that streak ended in 2006-07, however, it’s been an up-and-down existence for the franchise. The Avalanche haven’t been past the second round of the playoffs in the 15 years since.
But, things have changed. Now, Colorado is among the best teams in the NHL. They won the Presidents’ Trophy a season ago and are the odds-on favorite to win the Stanley Cup this year.
In part, that’s because they have a talent-laden roster. The Avs come at the opposition in waves, with line after line of players who can put the puck in the back of the net.
Do any of the members of the current cast crack the list of top-10 players in franchise history? Here’s how The Fan staff weighed in:
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10. Ray Bourque
Bourque finished his Hall of Fame career with a season-plus in Colorado. During his one full season in an Avalanche sweater, the defenseman was an All-Star, finished second in the Norris Trophy voting and helped lead his team to the second Stanley Cup in franchise history.
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9. Rob Blake
After a stellar career with the Kings, Blake was a key addition during the Avalanche’s run to the Stanley Cup in 2001. During his four-plus years in Colorado, the defenseman was a multiple-time All-Star and finished in the top 10 of Norris voting four times.
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8. Adam Foote
Foote was part of the franchise when they moved from Quebec to Denver. He played 967 games with the organization, spread out over 17 seasons and two different stints. He was an integral part of both Stanley Cup-winning teams and had his number retired by the organization.
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7. Gabriel Landeskog
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Landeskog has spent his entire career with Colorado. It started off with a bang, as he won the Calder Trophy as the best rookie in the league. The captain has scored 248 goals and racked up 571 points in 738 games with the Avs.
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6. Milan Hejduk
The forward spent all 14 of his NHL seasons in Colorado, scoring 375 goals and putting up 805 points in 1,020 career games with the Avs. He was a key member of the team’s Stanley Cup team in 2001, posting 23 points in 23 games during the playoff run.
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5. Cale Makar
In just three seasons with the Avalanche, Makar has already established himself as one of the best players in the NHL. He won the Calder Trophy as rookie, finished second for the Norris Trophy last season and is a finalist again this year. At just 23 years old, he’s going to post monster numbers for years to come.
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4. Nathan MacKinnon
MacKinnon joined the Avs after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He’s lived up to the hype, winning the Calder Trophy as a rookie. He’s a five-time All-Star and has finished in the top three for the Hart Trophy three times in his nine-year career.
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3. Peter Forsberg
Forsberg spent 11 seasons with the organization, the last 10 in Colorado. He was a perennial All-Star, a part of two Stanley Cup-winning teams and one of only two Hart Trophy winners in franchise history. He earned that award in 2002-03, when he led the NHL in total points with 106.
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2. Patrick Roy
Arguably the greatest goaltender in NHL history, Roy spent the final seven-plus seasons of his Hall of Fame career in Colorado. He was a key acquisition midway through the 1995-96 season, helping the Avs win the Cup during their first year in Denver. Five years later, he won the Conn Smythe, leading the way to a second title.
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1. Joe Sakic
Sakic spent all 20 of his NHL seasons with the organization. He was a part of both Stanley Cup champions, earning the Conn Smythe during the Avalanche’s first title run. The captain also won a Hart Trophy, being named MVP during Colorado’s second championship season when he scored a career-high 54 goals and posted 118 points.
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