What happened: Colorado enters the 2026-27 season with a thinner supporting cast after Jack Drury and Ross Colton departed and Valeri Nichushkin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Fedor Svechkov and Jaden Schwartz are now ticketed for larger roles up and down the lineup, and the Avalanche have limited draft-pick and prospect capital left to swing another major deadline deal.

Why it matters: Colorado's recent playoff exits exposed a lack of bite once games tighten up, and general manager Chris MacFarland has fewer trade chips than in years past to fix it externally. That leaves the roster's next step tied to the same youth movement Colorado has already committed to, with Svechkov and Schwartz's health and development determining how deep a run the Avalanche can sustain.

What to watch: Watch how Svechkov handles an everyday center role and whether Schwartz stays healthy through camp, with Colorado's trade-deadline approach likely hinging on how that bottom six looks by midseason.