An American flag projected on the ice at Ball Arena during the anthem
NHL · In Denver since 1995

Avalanche

Season stories, legends, venues and owners from Avalanche history.

Avalanche · Season Stories

Season Stories

The 2020s · newest first

2026 · 2025-26 season · Playoffs

Lost Conference Final

Record
55-16-11 W-L-OTL
Points
121
Points %
.738
Head Coach
Jared Bednar
Top Goal Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 53 G
Top Point Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 127 P
Top Scoring D
Cale Makar 79 P
Most PIM
Josh Manson 91 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Scott Wedgewood 31 W
2025 · 2024-25 season · Playoffs

Lost First Round

Record
49-29-4 W-L-OTL
Points
102
Points %
.622
Head Coach
Jared Bednar
Top Goal Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 32 G
Top Point Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 116 P
Top Scoring D
Cale Makar 92 P
Most PIM
Miles Wood 48 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Mackenzie Blackwood 22 W
2024 · 2023-24 season · Playoffs

Lost Second Round

Record
50-25-7 W-L-OTL
Points
107
Points %
.652
Head Coach
Jared Bednar
Top Goal Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 51 G
Top Point Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 140 P
Top Scoring D
Cale Makar 90 P
Most PIM
Josh Manson 87 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Alexandar Georgiev 38 W
2023 · 2022-23 season · Playoffs

Lost First Round

Record
51-24-7 W-L-OTL
Points
109
Points %
.665
Head Coach
Jared Bednar
Top Goal Scorer
Mikko Rantanen 55 G
Top Point Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 111 P
Top Scoring D
Cale Makar 66 P
Most PIM
Mikko Rantanen 82 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Alexandar Georgiev 40 W
2022 · 2021-22 season · Playoffs

Won Stanley Cup

Record
56-19-7 W-L-OTL
Points
119
Points %
.726
Head Coach
Jared Bednar
Top Goal Scorer
Mikko Rantanen 36 G
Top Point Scorer
Mikko Rantanen 92 P
Top Scoring D
Cale Makar 86 P
Most PIM
Kurtis MacDermid 89 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Darcy Kuemper 37 W
2021 · 2020-21 season · Playoffs

Lost Second Round

Record
39-13-4 W-L-OTL
Points
82
Points %
.732
Head Coach
Jared Bednar
Top Goal Scorer
Mikko Rantanen 30 G
Top Point Scorer
Mikko Rantanen 66 P
Top Scoring D
Cale Makar 44 P
Most PIM
Ryan Graves 55 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Philipp Grubauer 30 W
2020 · 2019-20 season · Playoffs

Lost Second Round

Record
42-20-8 W-L-OTL
Points
92
Points %
.657
Head Coach
Jared Bednar
Top Goal Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 35 G
Top Point Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 93 P
Top Scoring D
Cale Makar 50 P
Most PIM
Nazem Kadri 97 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Pavel Francouz 21 W

The 2010s · newest first

2019 · 2018-19 season · Playoffs

Lost Second Round

Record
38-30-14 W-L-OTL
Points
90
Points %
.549
Head Coach
Jared Bednar
Top Goal Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 41 G
Top Point Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 99 P
Top Scoring D
Tyson Barrie 59 P
Most PIM
Ian Cole 115 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Semyon Varlamov 20 W
2018 · 2017-18 season · Playoffs

Lost First Round

Record
43-30-9 W-L-OTL
Points
95
Points %
.579
Head Coach
Jared Bednar
Top Goal Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 39 G
Top Point Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 97 P
Top Scoring D
Tyson Barrie 57 P
Most PIM
Nikita Zadorov 103 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Semyon Varlamov 24 W
2017 · 2016-17 season · Playoffs

Missed playoffs

Record
22-56-4 W-L-OTL
Points
48
Points %
.293
Head Coach
Jared Bednar
Top Goal Scorer
Mikko Rantanen 20 G
Top Point Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon 53 P
Top Scoring D
Tyson Barrie 38 P
Most PIM
Nikita Zadorov 73 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Calvin Pickard 15 W
2016 · 2015-16 season · Playoffs

Missed playoffs

Record
39-39-4 W-L-OTL
Points
82
Points %
.500
Head Coach
Patrick Roy
Top Goal Scorer
Matt Duchene 30 G
Top Point Scorer
Matt Duchene 59 P
Top Scoring D
Tyson Barrie 49 P
Most PIM
Cody McLeod 138 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Semyon Varlamov 27 W
2015 · 2014-15 season · Playoffs

Missed playoffs

Record
39-31-12 W-L-OTL
Points
90
Points %
.549
Head Coach
Patrick Roy
Top Goal Scorer
Jarome Iginla 29 G
Top Point Scorer
Jarome Iginla / Gabriel Landeskog 59 P
Top Scoring D
Tyson Barrie 53 P
Most PIM
Cody McLeod 191 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Semyon Varlamov 28 W
2014 · 2013-14 season · Playoffs

Lost First Round

Record
52-22-8 W-L-OTL
Points
112
Points %
.683
Head Coach
Patrick Roy
Top Goal Scorer
Ryan O'Reilly 28 G
Top Point Scorer
Matt Duchene 70 P
Top Scoring D
Erik Johnson 39 P
Most PIM
Cody McLeod 122 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Semyon Varlamov 41 W
2013 · 2012-13 season · Playoffs

Missed playoffs

Record
16-25-7 W-L-OTL
Points
39
Points %
.406
Head Coach
Joe Sacco
Top Goal Scorer
P.A. Parenteau 18 G
Top Point Scorer
PA Parenteau / Matt Duchene 43 P
Top Scoring D
Tyson Barrie 13 P
Most PIM
Cody McLeod 83 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Semyon Varlamov 11 W
2012 · 2011-12 season · Playoffs

Missed playoffs

Record
41-35-6 W-L-OTL
Points
88
Points %
.537
Head Coach
Joe Sacco
Top Goal Scorer
Gabriel Landeskog 22 G
Top Point Scorer
Ryan O'Reilly 55 P
Top Scoring D
Erik Johnson 26 P
Most PIM
Cody McLeod 164 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Semyon Varlamov 26 W
2011 · 2010-11 season · Playoffs

Missed playoffs

Record
30-44-8 W-L-OTL
Points
68
Points %
.415
Head Coach
Joe Sacco
Top Goal Scorer
David Jones / Matt Duchene 27 G
Top Point Scorer
Matt Duchene 67 P
Top Scoring D
John-Michael Liles 46 P
Most PIM
Cody McLeod 189 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Peter Budaj 15 W
2010 · 2009-10 season · Playoffs

Lost Conference Quarterfinal

Record
43-30-9 W-L-OTL
Points
95
Points %
.579
Head Coach
Joe Sacco
Top Goal Scorer
Chris Stewart 28 G
Top Point Scorer
Paul Stastny 79 P
Top Scoring D
John-Michael Liles 31 P
Most PIM
Cody McLeod 138 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Craig Anderson 38 W

The 2000s · newest first

2009 · 2008-09 season · Playoffs

Missed playoffs

Record
32-45-5 W-L-OTL
Points
69
Points %
.421
Head Coach
Tony Granato
Top Goal Scorer
Milan Hejduk 27 G
Top Point Scorer
Ryan Smyth / Milan Hejduk 59 P
Top Scoring D
John-Michael Liles 39 P
Most PIM
Ian Laperriere 163 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Peter Budaj 20 W
2008 · 2007-08 season · Playoffs

Lost Conference Semifinal

Record
44-31-7 W-L-OTL
Points
95
Points %
.579
Head Coach
Joel Quenneville
Top Goal Scorer
Milan Hejduk 29 G
Top Point Scorer
Paul Stastny 71 P
Top Scoring D
John-Michael Liles 32 P
Most PIM
Ian Laperriere 140 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Jose Theodore 28 W
2007 · 2006-07 season · Playoffs

Missed playoffs

Record
44-31-7 W-L-OTL
Points
95
Points %
.579
Head Coach
Joel Quenneville
Top Goal Scorer
Joe Sakic 36 G
Top Point Scorer
Joe Sakic 100 P
Top Scoring D
John-Michael Liles 44 P
Most PIM
Ian Laperriere 133 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Peter Budaj 31 W
2006 · 2005-06 season · Playoffs

Lost Conference Semifinal

Record
43-30-9 W-L-OTL
Points
95
Points %
.579
Head Coach
Joel Quenneville
Top Goal Scorer
Joe Sakic / Marek Svatos 32 G
Top Point Scorer
Joe Sakic 87 P
Top Scoring D
Rob Blake 51 P
Most PIM
Ian Laperriere 116 PIM
Most Wins (G)
David Aebischer 25 W
2004 · 2003-04 season · Playoffs

Lost Conference Semifinal

Record
40-22-13-7 W-L-T-OTL
Points
100
Points %
.610
Head Coach
Tony Granato
Top Goal Scorer
Milan Hejduk 35 G
Top Point Scorer
Joe Sakic 87 P
Top Scoring D
Rob Blake 46 P
Most PIM
Peter Worrell 179 PIM
Most Wins (G)
David Aebischer 32 W
2003 · 2002-03 season · Playoffs

Lost Conference Quarterfinal

Record
42-19-13-8 W-L-T-OTL
Points
105
Points %
.640
Head Coach
Bob Hartley / Tony Granato
Top Goal Scorer
Milan Hejduk 50 G
Top Point Scorer
Peter Forsberg 106 P
Top Scoring D
Derek Morris 48 P
Most PIM
Adam Foote 88 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Patrick Roy 35 W
2002 · 2001-02 season · Playoffs

Lost Conference Final

Record
45-28-8-1 W-L-T-OTL
Points
99
Points %
.604
Head Coach
Bob Hartley
Top Goal Scorer
Joe Sakic 26 G
Top Point Scorer
Joe Sakic 79 P
Top Scoring D
Rob Blake 56 P
Most PIM
Scott Parker 154 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Patrick Roy 32 W
2001 · 2000-01 season · Playoffs

Won Stanley Cup

Record
52-16-10-4 W-L-T-OTL
Points
118
Points %
.720
Head Coach
Bob Hartley
Top Goal Scorer
Joe Sakic 54 G
Top Point Scorer
Joe Sakic 118 P
Top Scoring D
Ray Bourque 59 P
Most PIM
Scott Parker 155 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Patrick Roy 40 W
2000 · 1999-00 season · Playoffs

Lost Conference Final

Record
42-28-11-1 W-L-T-OTL
Points
96
Points %
.585
Head Coach
Bob Hartley
Top Goal Scorer
Milan Hejduk 36 G
Top Point Scorer
Joe Sakic 81 P
Top Scoring D
Sandis Ozolinsh 52 P
Most PIM
Jeff Odgers 162 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Patrick Roy 32 W

The 1990s · newest first

1999 · 1998-99 season · Playoffs

Lost Conference Final

Record
44-28-10 W-L-T
Points
98
Points %
.598
Head Coach
Bob Hartley
Top Goal Scorer
Joe Sakic 41 G
Top Point Scorer
Peter Forsberg 97 P
Top Scoring D
Sandis Ozolinsh 32 P
Most PIM
Jeff Odgers 259 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Patrick Roy 32 W
1998 · 1997-98 season · Playoffs

Lost Conference Quarterfinal

Record
39-26-17 W-L-T
Points
95
Points %
.579
Head Coach
Marc Crawford
Top Goal Scorer
Joe Sakic 27 G
Top Point Scorer
Peter Forsberg 91 P
Top Scoring D
Sandis Ozolinsh 51 P
Most PIM
Jeff Odgers 213 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Patrick Roy 31 W
1997 · 1996-97 season · Playoffs

Lost Conference Final

Record
49-24-9 W-L-T
Points
107
Points %
.652
Head Coach
Marc Crawford
Top Goal Scorer
Adam Deadmarsh 33 G
Top Point Scorer
Peter Forsberg 86 P
Top Scoring D
Sandis Ozolinsh 68 P
Most PIM
Brent Severyn 193 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Patrick Roy 38 W
1996 · 1995-96 season · Playoffs

Won Stanley Cup

Record
47-25-10 W-L-T
Points
104
Points %
.634
Head Coach
Marc Crawford
Top Goal Scorer
Joe Sakic 51 G
Top Point Scorer
Joe Sakic 120 P
Top Scoring D
Sandis Ozolinsh 50 P
Most PIM
Chris Simon 250 PIM
Most Wins (G)
Stephane Fiset / Patrick Roy 22 W

Regular-season stats. Sources: Hockey-Reference, NHL.com and the 2025-26 Colorado Avalanche Media Guide. No 2004-05 season (NHL lockout).

Avalanche · Championships

Championships

2021-22 · Stanley Cup

Third Stanley Cup

Beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2. Game 6, June 26, 2022: won 2-1 at Amalie Arena. Artturi Lehkonen scored the winner.

Record
56-19-7, 119 pts (franchise records)
Finish
1st in Central, 1st in West
Head coach
Jared Bednar
Captain
Gabriel Landeskog
Conn Smythe
Cale Makar
Playoff goals
Nathan MacKinnon, 13
Playoff points
Cale Makar, 29
Goalies
Darcy Kuemper 10-4, Pavel Francouz 6-0
Playoff record
16-4
“It's hard to describe. ... Some tough years mixed in there, but it's all over now. We never stopped believing.”
Nathan MacKinnon, center · After the Game 6 clincher (AP) · source

The playoff run

  1. First RoundNashville Predators4-0
    • W 7-2
    • W 2-1 OT
    • W 7-3
    • W 5-3

    Cale Makar won Game 2 in overtime even though Nashville's Connor Ingram made 49 saves.

  2. Second RoundSt. Louis Blues4-2
    • W 3-2 OT
    • L 1-4
    • W 5-2
    • W 6-3
    • L 4-5 OT
    • W 3-2

    Darren Helm scored the series winner in Game 6 in St. Louis with 5.6 seconds left in regulation.

  3. Western Conference FinalEdmonton Oilers4-0
    • W 8-6
    • W 4-0
    • W 4-2
    • W 6-5 OT

    Artturi Lehkonen scored in overtime of Game 4 in Edmonton to finish the sweep.

  4. Stanley Cup FinalTampa Bay Lightning4-2
    • W 4-3 OT
    • W 7-0
    • L 2-6
    • W 3-2 OT
    • L 2-3
    • W 2-1

    Andre Burakovsky and Nazem Kadri won Games 1 and 4 in overtime, and Lehkonen's goal clinched it in Game 6.

“It's just been building over time. ... It was just all leading up to this.”
Cale Makar, defenseman and Conn Smythe winner · After the Game 6 clincher (AP) · source

The regular season

  • Colorado set franchise records with 56 wins and 119 points and took the top seed in the West.
  • The Avs won 18 straight home games and went 32-5-4 at Ball Arena, the best home record in team history.
  • Cale Makar set franchise records for a defenseman with 28 goals and 86 points and won the Norris Trophy.
  • Goalie Darcy Kuemper, acquired from Arizona in the summer, went 37-12-4 with a .921 save percentage.
  • At the deadline, Joe Sakic added Josh Manson, Artturi Lehkonen and Andrew Cogliano. Lehkonen went on to score the clinching goals against Edmonton and Tampa Bay.

Lore

  • Colorado ended Tampa Bay's bid for a third straight Cup and won its first title since 2001.
  • Landeskog handed the Cup first to Erik Johnson, the longest-serving Avalanche player.
  • Makar joined Bobby Orr and Nicklas Lidstrom as the only defensemen to win the Norris, Conn Smythe and Cup in the same season.
  • Jared Bednar became the first coach to win the ECHL's Kelly Cup, the AHL's Calder Cup and the Stanley Cup.
  • Colorado went 9-1 on the road in the playoffs.
“'Gabe' was telling me the last couple of years, 'When we win it, you're getting it first.'”
Erik Johnson, defenseman · After getting the Cup first from captain Gabriel Landeskog · source
2000-01 · Stanley Cup

Second Stanley Cup

Beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3. Game 7, June 9, 2001: won 3-1 at the Pepsi Center. Alex Tanguay scored twice, including the winner.

Record
52-16-10-4, 118 pts
Finish
Presidents' Trophy (best in NHL)
Head coach
Bob Hartley
Captain
Joe Sakic
Conn Smythe
Patrick Roy
Playoff goals
Joe Sakic, 13
Playoff points
Joe Sakic, 26
Goalie
Patrick Roy, 16-7, 1.70 GAA, 4 SO
Playoff record
16-7
“Joe was just an amazing, classy, great captain, and an amazing person.”
Ray Bourque, defenseman · On Sakic handing him the Cup, 2026 look-back · source

The playoff run

  1. Conference QuarterfinalsVancouver Canucks4-0
    • W 5-4
    • W 2-1
    • W 4-3 OT
    • W 5-1

    Peter Forsberg won Game 3 in overtime in Vancouver on the way to a sweep.

  2. Conference SemifinalsLos Angeles Kings4-3
    • L 3-4 OT
    • W 2-0
    • W 4-3
    • W 3-0
    • L 0-1
    • L 0-1 2OT
    • W 5-1

    The Kings rallied from 3-1 down with two 1-0 wins, but Colorado won Game 7 5-1, with the first goal from former King Rob Blake.

  3. Conference FinalsSt. Louis Blues4-1
    • W 4-1
    • W 4-2
    • L 3-4 2OT
    • W 4-3 OT
    • W 2-1 OT

    Sakic scored on the power play 24 seconds into overtime of Game 5 to send Colorado to the Final.

  4. Stanley Cup FinalsNew Jersey Devils4-3
    • W 5-0
    • L 1-2
    • W 3-1
    • L 2-3
    • L 1-4
    • W 4-0
    • W 3-1

    Down 3-2 to the defending champs, Colorado won Game 6 4-0 in New Jersey behind Roy, then took Game 7 at home.

“In the end, it's so hard, regardless if you're favored or not. ... It is so hard to win.”
Ray Bourque, defenseman · Same 2026 look-back · source

The regular season

  • On Oct. 17, 2000, Patrick Roy won his 448th game and passed Terry Sawchuk for the most wins in NHL history.
  • Joe Sakic scored 54 goals and 118 points and won the Hart Trophy.
  • In late February, GM Pierre Lacroix traded for defenseman Rob Blake from Los Angeles.
  • Colorado won the Presidents' Trophy with 52 wins and 118 points, a franchise record at the time.
  • Ray Bourque came back for a 22nd NHL season to chase his first Cup, and Milan Hejduk scored 41 goals.

Lore

  • Sakic took the Cup from the commissioner and handed it straight to Ray Bourque, who lifted it for the first time after 22 seasons.
  • Roy won his third Conn Smythe Trophy, the most of any player, with four shutouts in the run.
  • Peter Forsberg had his spleen removed the day after the Game 7 win over Los Angeles and missed the rest of the playoffs.
  • The Devils had played in Denver from 1976 to 1982 as the Colorado Rockies.
“And we had one mission that was just to win the Stanley Cup, and then you do it in the end, it was a great feeling.”
Peter Forsberg, center · Same 2026 look-back · source
1995-96 · Stanley Cup

First Stanley Cup

Swept the Florida Panthers 4-0. Game 4, June 10, 1996: won 1-0 in triple overtime at Miami Arena. Uwe Krupp scored the winner.

Record
47-25-10, 104 pts
Finish
1st in Pacific Division
Head coach
Marc Crawford
Captain
Joe Sakic
Conn Smythe
Joe Sakic
Playoff goals
Joe Sakic, 18
Playoff points
Joe Sakic, 34
Goalie
Patrick Roy, 16-6, 2.10 GAA
Playoff record
16-6
“When you score a goal, the celebrations are huge, but when it's the goal and you're the champion, an incredible weight is lifted off your shoulders.”
Uwe Krupp, defenseman · Looking back on his Cup winner, 2025 · source

The playoff run

  1. Conference QuarterfinalsVancouver Canucks4-2
    • W 5-2
    • L 4-5
    • W 4-0
    • L 3-4
    • W 5-4 OT
    • W 3-2

    Joe Sakic won Game 5 just 51 seconds into overtime, then scored the go-ahead goal late in the Game 6 clincher in Vancouver.

  2. Conference SemifinalsChicago Blackhawks4-2
    • L 2-3 OT
    • W 5-1
    • L 3-4 OT
    • W 3-2 3OT
    • W 4-1
    • W 4-3 2OT

    Sakic ended Game 4 in triple overtime in Chicago, and Sandis Ozolinsh won the Game 6 clincher in double overtime.

  3. Conference FinalsDetroit Red Wings4-2
    • W 3-2 OT
    • W 3-0
    • L 4-6
    • W 4-2
    • L 2-5
    • W 4-1

    Colorado knocked out the 62-win Red Wings, and Claude Lemieux's hit on Kris Draper in Game 6 lit the fuse on the rivalry.

  4. Stanley Cup FinalsFlorida Panthers4-0
    • W 3-1
    • W 8-1
    • W 3-2
    • W 1-0 3OT

    Patrick Roy stopped all 63 shots in Game 4, and Uwe Krupp scored at 4:31 of the third overtime to finish the sweep.

“My career was hanging by a thread because of [a knee] injury, and then I won the Stanley Cup.”
Uwe Krupp, defenseman · Same 2025 interview · source

The regular season

  • The Avalanche played their first game on Oct. 6, 1995, a 3-2 win over Detroit at McNichols Arena, weeks after moving from Quebec.
  • Colorado rebuilt on the fly, landing Claude Lemieux for Wendel Clark and Sandis Ozolinsh for Owen Nolan in October.
  • On Dec. 6, 1995, the Avs got Patrick Roy and Mike Keane from Montreal. It was the trade that changed the franchise.
  • Joe Sakic scored 51 goals and 120 points, Peter Forsberg had 116 points, and the team scored 326 goals, second-most in the NHL.
  • They won the Pacific Division with 104 points in their first season in Denver.

Lore

  • It was Denver's first major pro sports championship, won in the franchise's first season after relocating.
  • Roy made 63 saves in the 1-0 clincher; Florida's John Vanbiesbrouck stopped 55 of 56. Colorado outscored Florida 15-4 in the Final.
  • Sakic's 18 playoff goals led the NHL and are still the franchise record.
  • Colorado went 5-2 in overtime games, including two triple-overtime wins.

Playoff game scores are from Colorado's side. Sources: Hockey-Reference, NHL.com, AP and Wikipedia; each quote links to where it was published.

Avalanche · Essential Highlights

Essential Highlights

  1. 1996

    Game · NHL

    Game 4, 1996: Krupp in triple overtime

    The NHL looks back at the 1-0 triple-overtime win in Miami that won Colorado its first Stanley Cup.

  2. 1997

    Game · HockeyWebCast

    Fight Night at the Joe

    March 26, 1997: the brawl in Detroit that turned Avs-Red Wings into the NHL's fiercest rivalry.

  3. 2001

    Montage · NHL

    Bourque lifts the Cup

    Sakic hands the Stanley Cup straight to Ray Bourque after 22 years of waiting.

  4. 2002

    Play · Sportsnet

    Sakic scores No. 500

    The captain becomes the 31st player in NHL history to score 500 goals.

  5. 2003

    Play · NHL

    Peter Forsberg at his peak

    Forsberg in the 2002-03 season he won the Hart and Art Ross trophies.

  6. 2022

    Play · NHL

    Kadri's overtime winner

    Back from thumb surgery, Nazem Kadri wins Game 4 of the Final in overtime.

  7. Game · Sportsnet

    Game 6: Avalanche win the Cup

    Colorado dethrones the two-time champion Lightning in Tampa.

  8. Speech · Sportsnet

    Makar wins the Conn Smythe

    Cale Makar is named playoff MVP after a Norris Trophy season.

  9. Documentary · NHL

    The 2022 Stanley Cup film

    The NHL's official film of the championship run, start to finish.

  10. 2024

    Speech · Colorado Avalanche

    MacKinnon's Hart Trophy

    Nathan MacKinnon wins the Hart and Ted Lindsay awards after a 140-point season.

Videos are hosted on YouTube by the channels shown and play here through YouTube's player. If a channel removes a video, it will stop playing.

Avalanche · Legends

Legends

  1. 1995

    C · 1995–2009

    Joe Sakic

    • No. 19 retired
    • Hall of Fame 2012

    Captain of both Cup teams. Won the 1996 Conn Smythe and the 2001 Hart Trophy, and scored 391 goals after the move to Denver.

    Cups
    1996, 2001
    Career pts
    1,641
  2. C · 1995–2004, 2007–08, 2011

    Peter Forsberg

    • No. 21 retired
    • Hall of Fame 2014

    2003 Hart and Art Ross winner and one of the best two-way centers ever.

    Cups
    1996, 2001
    Franchise pts
    755
  3. D · 1995–2004, 2008–11

    Adam Foote

    • No. 52 retired

    Shutdown defenseman who played more games than any defenseman in franchise history.

    Cups
    1996, 2001
    Games
    967
  4. G · 1995–2003

    Patrick Roy

    • No. 33 retired
    • Hall of Fame 2006

    Traded to Colorado in December 1995. Won two Cups and the 2001 Conn Smythe, his record third.

    Cups
    1996, 2001
    Career wins
    551
  5. 1997

    RW · 1997–98

    Jari Kurri

    • Hall of Fame 2001

    Played his final NHL season in Colorado (22 points).

  6. 1998

    RW · 1998–2013

    Milan Hejduk

    • No. 23 retired

    Scored 50 goals in 2002-03 to win the Rocket Richard Trophy, and was the first Avalanche player to play 1,000 games in Colorado.

    Cup
    2001
    Best season
    50 goals
  7. 2000

    D · 2000–01

    Ray Bourque

    • No. 77 retired
    • Hall of Fame 2004

    Came from Boston in March 2000 and won the Cup in his 22nd and final season.

    Cup
    2001
  8. LW · 2000

    Dave Andreychuk

    • Hall of Fame 2017

    Arrived with Bourque in the March 2000 trade.

  9. 2001

    D · 2001–06

    Rob Blake

    • Hall of Fame 2014

    Acquired in February 2001 and won the Cup four months later. Top-scoring defenseman three times.

    Cup
    2001
    Best season
    56 pts (2001-02)
  10. 2003

    LW / RW · 2003–04

    Paul Kariya & Teemu Selanne

    • Hall of Fame 2017

    Both signed for one season in 2003-04. Kariya had 36 points, Selanne 32.

  11. 2005

    C · 2005–07

    Pierre Turgeon

    • Hall of Fame 2023

    Had 46 points in 2005-06, the first season after the lockout.

  12. 2006

    C · 2006–14

    Paul Stastny

    • Team great

    Set an NHL rookie record with a 20-game point streak and led the team in scoring in 2007-08 and 2009-10.

    Best season
    79 pts (2009-10)
  13. 2009

    C · 2009–17

    Matt Duchene

    • Team great

    Led the team in points three times and won Olympic gold with Canada in 2014.

    Best season
    70 pts (2013-14)
  14. 2011

    LW · 2011–present

    Gabriel Landeskog

    • Active
    • 2022 Cup captain

    2012 Calder winner and the youngest captain in NHL history at the time (19 years, 286 days). Captained the 2022 Cup team.

    Best season
    75 pts (2018-19)
  15. 2013

    C · 2013–present

    Nathan MacKinnon

    • Active
    • 2024 Hart Trophy

    2014 Calder and 2024 Hart Trophy winner. Scored 140 points in 2023-24 and 53 goals in 2025-26.

    Cup
    2022
    Best season
    140 pts
  16. 2014

    RW · 2014–17

    Jarome Iginla

    • Hall of Fame 2020

    Led the Avalanche with 29 goals in 2014-15.

  17. 2015

    RW · 2015–25

    Mikko Rantanen

    • Team great

    Scored 55 goals in 2022-23, the most by a Colorado player. Traded in January 2025.

    Cup
    2022
    Best season
    55 goals
  18. 2019

    D · 2019–present

    Cale Makar

    • Active
    • 2× Norris
    • 2022 Conn Smythe

    Won the Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe in 2022, then a second Norris in 2025 after a 30-goal season.

    Cup
    2022
    Best season
    92 pts (2024-25)

Placed by the year each player joined the Avalanche in Colorado (Quebec years not shown). Hall of Famers with short Colorado stints are shown as smaller cards. Sources: 2025-26 Colorado Avalanche Media Guide (retired numbers, Hall of Fame list) and the Season Stories data.

Avalanche · Charts

Charts

Win %

Win % is wins divided by games played. Seasons are labeled by the year they ended; no 2004-05 season (lockout). 2020 playoff wins include the 2-1 round-robin. ★ championship season

Avalanche · Oddities

Oddities

  1. 1995
    • Off the Ice

    The Avs were almost the 'Extreme'

    After the Nordiques moved to Denver, the owners planned to call the team the Rocky Mountain Extreme, and logos had already been drawn. When The Denver Post broke the name, angry fans flooded talk radio, and the team switched to 'Avalanche' the next day.

    Source: cpr.org

    • Trade & Draft

    Nine goals, one sentence, one blockbuster

    On Dec. 2, 1995, Montreal left Patrick Roy in for nine Detroit goals. Walking off, he told the team president it was his last game for the Canadiens. Four days later he was traded to Colorado.

    Source: thehockeywriters.com

  2. 1996
    • Fans

    Rat storm in the Stanley Cup Final

    Florida fans threw plastic rats onto the ice after Panthers goals, and they rained down in Game 3 of the 1996 Final. Roy didn't allow another goal the rest of the series, and the Avs swept. The NHL changed its rules the next season so home teams could be penalized for thrown objects.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

    • Trophy

    A baptism in the Stanley Cup

    On his day with the Cup, defenseman Sylvain Lefebvre had his daughter baptized in it. In 2022, Avs defenseman Jack Johnson did the same for his three kids.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

  3. 1999
    • Mascots

    Howler the Yeti vanishes

    The Avs' first mascot, Howler the Yeti, got into a shoving match with a visiting fan at McNichols Arena in 1999 and quietly disappeared a couple of years later; many believe that's why, though the team never said. Colorado went without a mascot until Bernie arrived in 2009.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

  4. 2001
    • Off the Ice

    Shjon Podein's 25-hour uniform

    After Colorado won Game 7 of the 2001 Final, forward Shjon Podein refused to take off his uniform and kept it on for 25 hours of celebrating.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

  5. 2002
    • On the Ice

    The Statue of Liberty that backfired

    Patrick Roy liked to hold his glove up after a save. In Game 6 of the 2002 conference final against Detroit, he did it with the puck not in his glove, and Brendan Shanahan tapped it in. Detroit won that game and then Game 7, 7-0.

    Source: hookedonhockeymagazine.com

  6. 2008
    • Injury

    Joe Sakic vs. the snowblower

    Already out with a herniated disk, captain Joe Sakic broke three fingers in a snowblower accident at home in December 2008. He never played another NHL game and retired the next summer.

    Source: nhl.com

  7. 2022
    • On the Ice

    The OT winner nobody saw go in

    Back from thumb surgery for Game 4 of the 2022 Final, Nazem Kadri scored in overtime, but the puck wedged at the top of the net and almost nobody realized the game was over. The goal stood.

    Source: russianmachineneverbreaks.com

    • Trophy

    Dropped, dented and tattooed

    Minutes after the Avs won the Cup in Tampa, Nicolas Aube-Kubel hit a rut skating to the team photo and fell with the trophy, denting its base. He later got a Stanley Cup tattoo, dent included.

    Source: thescore.com

Each story was checked against at least one published source, linked on its card. Where a story is disputed, the card says so.

Avalanche · Venues

Venues

  1. McNichols Sports Arena 1995–1999
  2. Ball Arena 1999–now
The Avalanche and Lightning face off in a Stanley Cup Final game at Ball Arena
1999–presentCurrent home

Ball Arena

Opened Oct. 1, 1999. The Avalanche won the 2001 Stanley Cup on home ice here in Game 7 and hosted the 2001 NHL All-Star Game and the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

Opened
Oct. 1, 1999
Capacity (hockey)
18,007
Cost
$187 million
Avalanche record
560-320-27-75 (through 2024-25)
Status
Home since 1999
Names
  1. Pepsi Center 1999–2020
  2. Ball Arena 2020–present
1995–19994 seasons

McNichols Sports Arena

Named for Denver mayor William H. McNichols Jr. The Avalanche's first home, where they sold out every game after their first month and raised the 1996 Stanley Cup banner.

Opened
Aug. 22, 1975
Capacity (hockey)
16,061
Avalanche record
92-44-28 (1995-99)
Also home to
Nuggets (1975-99), NHL's Colorado Rockies (1976-82)
Status
Closed 1999, demolished 2000
Name
  1. McNichols Sports Arena 1975–1999

Special home games

  • Feb. 27, 2016Coors Field, Denver

    NHL Stadium Series vs. Detroit before 50,095 fans (loss).

  • Nov. 2017Ericsson Globe, Stockholm

    NHL Global Series vs. Ottawa before 13,396 fans (overtime loss).

  • Feb. 15, 2020Falcon Stadium, Air Force Academy

    NHL Stadium Series vs. Los Angeles before 43,574 fans (loss).

  • Feb. 20, 2021Edgewood Tahoe Resort, Lake Tahoe

    NHL Outdoors vs. Vegas, played without fans (win).

  • Nov. 2023Nokia Arena, Tampere, Finland

    NHL Global Series vs. Columbus before 12,882 fans (win).

Sources: 2025-26 Colorado Avalanche Media Guide (capacities, records by building, special-game attendance); opening dates from the arenas' histories.

Avalanche · Owners

Owners

July 2000 - present

Stan Kroenke / Kroenke Sports & Entertainment

Owner; Josh Kroenke has been team president and governor since 2013

Seasons
25 2001–2026
Record
1,047-710-221 W-L-T/OTL
Win %
.529
Playoff trips
17
Playoff record
109-84
Stanley Cups
2

Kroenke bought the Avalanche, Nuggets and Pepsi Center in 2000, and the team won the Stanley Cup in his first season. His son Josh took over day-to-day control of the Denver teams, and the Avs won the Cup again in 2022.

  • Purchase closed July 6, 2000; won the Stanley Cup the following June
  • Launched Altitude Sports in 2004 (its games were off Comcast and DirecTV from 2019 until a Comcast deal in 2025)
  • Moved Joe Sakic into hockey operations in 2013 and hired Jared Bednar as coach in 2016
  • Pepsi Center renamed Ball Arena in 2020; won the 2022 Stanley Cup
“The Kroenke ownership, also including Stan's son, Josh, who is president of both the Avalanche and Nuggets, has been great for Colorado.”
Terry Frei, columnist · July 3, 2022 · source
“So that is the commonality — it's just sort of the ultimate reward for a lot of hard work by a lot of people.”
Stan Kroenke, on winning the Cup and Super Bowl the same year · June 2022 · source

Ann Walton Kroenke has been owner of record since 2015; the team credits Stan and KSE.

July 1995 - 2000

COMSAT / Ascent Entertainment (Charlie Lyons)

Owner; Charlie Lyons, chairman and CEO

Seasons
5 1996–2000
Record
221-131-58 W-L-T/OTL
Win %
.539
Playoff trips
5
Playoff record
51-31
Stanley Cups
1

COMSAT's entertainment arm, led by Charlie Lyons, bought the Quebec Nordiques and moved them to Denver. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in their first season. Ascent built the Pepsi Center, then spent 1999-2000 trying to sell the teams.

  • Bought the Nordiques for about $75 million and moved them to Denver in 1995
  • Approved the December 1995 trade for Patrick Roy
  • Opened the Pepsi Center in October 1999
  • Sold to Stan Kroenke in 2000 after earlier deals fell through
“To have been able to bring Denver its first major championship, in the team's first year, I mean, how does that even happen?”
Charlie Lyons · Oct. 2020 · source

Liberty Media owned Ascent for a few months in 2000 before the sale to Kroenke closed.

Records are regular-season results for the seasons credited to each owner (whoever owned the team for most of a season gets it). Sources: team histories, AP/UPI, Denver Post, SABR, Sports-Reference and Wikipedia; each quote links to where it was published.