Avalanche are going to win Stanley Cup judged as ‘not an overreaction’ by ESPN

The Colorado Avalanche had an active trade deadline.

GM Chris MacFarland made four deals in all, none bigger than acquiring Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames to bring him back to Denver.

The Avalanche also added Brett Kulak from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Nicolas Roy from the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nick Blankenburg as a depth defenseman from the Nashville Predators.

Colorado was the top team in the NHL before the trade deadline with the best Stanley Cup odds. Nothing’s changed on that front, but one popular book has the Avalanche at +290 to be champions this year. That’s pretty wild as the oddsmakers really like them to win it all.

Next in line is the Tampa Bay Lightning at +430, followed by the Carolina Hurricanes (+550), Vegas Golden Knights (+1100) and Edmonton Oilers (+1100).

Around the hockey world, it feels like it’d be a massive disappointment or surprise if the Avs don’t hoist the Cup. And ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski is thinking the same.

On Wednesday, Wyshynski published a story titled “Judging overreactions to the 2026 NHL trade deadline,” and a statement about Colorado was first on his list. It was “The Avalanche are going to win the Stanley Cup” and Wyshynski judged it as “not an overreaction.”

Frankly, how could it be?

The Avalanche are loaded and deep with some already making comparisons to the 2022 team, the last time the Mile High City was treated to a parade after the Avs won it all.

“I picked the Avalanche to win the Stanley Cup before the season. They’ve given me no reason to rethink that as of yet; and at the trade deadline, they might have underscored my confidence in that prediction,” Wyshynski wrote.

It’s not just Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen, Brock Nelson, Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin, Martin Necas, Devon Toews and the additions of Kadri, Roy and Kulak.

It’s also guys like Parker Kelly, Ross Colton, Josh Manson, Brent Burns, Sam Malinski and Jack Drury. Head coach Jared Bednar can roll four lines and they’ll come at opponents in waves.

If the Avalanche don’t win the Cup, there will be consequences. But thinking about those right now isn’t fun as it’s all about enjoying the journey.

To see Wyshynski’s full piece judging overreactions, click here.

Related

Cale Makar voted NHL’s best defenseman a fifth year in a rowAvalanche name new head coach for AHL affiliate EaglesFive most important Avalanche games during the 2026-27 seasonNHL drops schedule for 2026-27 Avalanche seasonFirst Avalanche game of 2026-27 season announced, it’s in SeptemberAvs make three more depth signings, including forward with 477 NHL games