The Avalanche finished last in 2016-17 and so far this summer they didn't really add very much. They teased with a drawn out auction for Matt Duchene, and they still have him.
Joe Sakic is receiving a lot of criticism, and as you will see in a month or so, most prognosticators will have the Avalanche finishing last again this year.
But they will be wrong to do so.
The Avs weren't as bad last year as they seemed, and they're going to get better a lot faster than anyone thinks. Just watch.
Even though they finished last, last season. the Avalanche were 23rd in possession. That still sucks, but since they weren't last, it is at least an indication that they weren't necessarily the worst team in the NHL.
In fact, they tied with a team that made the final four - the Ottawa Senators. This is an excellent example of the role luck plays in the NHL. I submit that the Senators don't have a much better, if it's even better at all, roster than the Avs. (I picked the Senators to finish last actually, last year, and I think they probably would have if not for improbable goaltending from Condon and their coach, the somehow Jack Adamsless Guy Boucher).
The Avalanche's team shooting percentage was 29th at 6.37%. There are reams of evidence that suggest that teams and players have no control over their shooting percentage at the NHL level. Now, the Avalanche also sucked at generating shots last year, so don't think I'm saying this is the ONLY reason they were last. It's just a big reason, and it's largely bad luck. Not all bad luck. Largely.
As an aside, the Kings are one of the best teams in hockey and very tough to play against. But they couldn't score last year and it cost them the playoffs. They were the 30th shooting percentage team, but were only marginally worse at it than the Avs. If that low of a percentage puts the Kings out of the playoffs, what do you think it's going to do to the Avalanche? Put them in last, that's what.
Additionally, Colorado was last in save percentage. Varlamov was horrible and Pickard - who played most of the games - was barely any better. Bernier replaces Pickard, and that's an upgrade.
Varlamov will not be sub .900 and a half-goal over his career GAA again. This alone will give the Avs a huge upgrade next season.
Then there is Matt Duchene. He will almost certainly be traded and bring back a good return. If Sakic does alright, the Avs will be better. He could also decide not to trade him at his lowest level of value, and in that case there's a huge chance he has a much, much better season than he did last year.
The thing about the Avs is that most teams that finish last don't have: Duchene, Mackinnon, Landeskog, Johnson, Barrie, Wilson and Varlamov.
If you outfit that core with a good set of supporting players, they would be a better than average team.
Mackinnon has another level to go to, and they have Rantanen, Tyson Jost and Cale Makar in their system. It's not the best, but it's a pretty good start. Landeskog is only 24. Varlamov isn't 30 yet.
Colin Wilson was a smart pickup. Sven Andrighetto is a good defensive depth player. Carl Soderberg is decent if he's not heavily relied upon. Yakupov was a smart gamble.
They are putting together a roster that doesn't look terrible. Like the Leafs, they finished 30th while somehow maintaining a good set of players in their prime years. They didn't get themselves an Auston Matthews, but rebuilding is a lot easier if you have a set of quality players in their primes.
The Avs were bad last year, but also pretty unlucky. They are highly unlikely to continue being among the worst teams at shooting and save percentage.
It stands to reason that Varlamov, Landeskog, Mackinnon, Barrie and Duchene are actually way better players than they showed last season.
I think we'll see them rebound quickly and may surprise a lot of people next winter.
Washington Capitals Blogger • 
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