In sports, there are various types of relationships. For the Colorado Avalanche, even though some key players have left, the bonds between those who once wore burgundy and blue and their former teammates remain strong. Off the ice, they’re friends; on the ice, they’re rivals. It’s a natural part of the game.
While many players from the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup-winning team have moved on, some key figures like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are still around. The departure of Mikko Rantanen is another significant loss, and it could have lasting implications for the team. However, there’s both a personal and business side to these decisions. Not every player you want can be kept, especially with the constraints of the salary cap.
The Avalanche experienced this reality after their 2021-22 Cup win. Players like Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovski, Darcy Kuemper, and Evan Rodrigues all left, and even Kiefer Sherwood enjoyed a career year with the Vancouver Canucks this season. It’s just how things work in the league.
Kadri seems to be subtly suggesting that the Avalanche should have kept Rantanen, as shown by his use of “#96”. In a humorous twist, the Dallas Stars’ Twitter account responded to Kadri’s post with a dog emoji.
The Avalanche’s journey since their Stanley Cup win has been a challenging one. They’ve made the playoffs every year since, except for head coach Jared Bednar’s first season, but they haven’t advanced past the second round since their championship. Bednar has faced four second-round exits and, including this year, three first-round defeats.
Typically, when I see a player’s social media post like Kadri’s, it signals a potential collapse, as though the players anticipated it. However, that mindset isn’t one that leads to success. All we can do is watch what happens with this team. Some fans have lost faith in Bednar, while others question general manager Chris MacFarland’s decisions. Unfortunately, we can’t directly influence what happens with the team, but it’s interesting to hear what others think about the direction the Avs should take.
Colorado recently fired their assistant coach responsible for special teams, Ray Bennett. That move was much needed, as special teams were one of the major areas holding the Avalanche back toward the end of the season and into the playoffs. It will be interesting to see who they bring in as a replacement and how it impacts the team moving forward.