The Colorado Avalanche have spent most of the 2025-26 season looking like an absolute wagon. They’ve basically been a freight train with no brakes, racking up a league-leading 74 points and leaving the rest of the Central Division in the dust. But hockey is a funny, cruel game. One minute you’re invincible at home, and the next, you’re watching Ryan O’Reilly celebrate a hat trick in your own building.
That 7-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on Friday night was a wake-up call. Honestly, it was ugly. It was the first time all season the Avs lost in regulation at Ball Arena. Before that, they were 19-0-3 on home ice. Head coach Jared Bednar didn’t sugarcoat it either, saying there were "no positives" to take away from a game where the team looked out of rhythm and, frankly, a bit sloppy.
NHL Colorado Avalanche News: The Injury Bug Bites Hard
You can't talk about NHL Colorado Avalanche news right now without mentioning the training room. It’s getting crowded. The biggest blow is obviously Gabriel Landeskog. After missing three full seasons and finally making a triumphant return this year, the captain hit the boards hard against Florida on January 4. He’s out for "some weeks" with an upper-body injury.
It’s a gut punch. Not just because Landeskog had 22 points in 41 games, but because of what he means to that locker room. Retired defenseman Erik Johnson recently mentioned that Landeskog is the best leader he’s ever been around. Losing that "stabilization factor" is why the team suddenly looks a little shaky.
Then there’s Devon Toews. He’s also out with an upper-body injury. Bednar expects him back sooner than Landeskog—maybe within a week or two—but in the meantime, the defense is missing its most reliable puck-mover. When Toews is out, Cale Makar has to carry even more of the load, which is a lot to ask even for a guy who leads all NHL defensemen in scoring.
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The Goaltending Rollercoaster
Remember the Alexandar Georgiev era? It feels like forever ago, but it was only December 2024 when Chris MacFarland pulled the trigger on that massive trade with San Jose. Mackenzie Blackwood has been the guy ever since.
Blackwood just came back from a two-week absence against Nashville, and he struggled. He stopped only 23 of 28 shots. You could see the rust. But the reality is that the Avs need him to find his form quickly. Scott Wedgewood has been a decent backup, but he’s not the guy you want starting 10 games in a row while you're trying to lock down the top seed in the West.
MacKinnon and the Race for the Hart
Even with the recent slide—losing four of their last six—Nathan MacKinnon is still doing Nathan MacKinnon things. He’s currently leading the NHL in goals with 36. He’s in a neck-and-neck race with Connor McDavid for the points lead, and if the season ended today, he’d probably be the favorite to take home another Hart Trophy.
His speed is still terrifying. According to NHL EDGE stats, he’s still leading the league in 20-plus mph speed bursts. Watching him fly through the neutral zone is basically the hockey equivalent of a jump scare for opposing defensemen.
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- Nathan MacKinnon: 36 goals (1st in NHL)
- Brock Nelson: 24 goals (Tied for 24th most by an American)
- Martin Necas: 22 goals (A massive offseason pickup paying off)
- Cale Makar: 35 points (1st among D-men as of early Dec/Jan)
Brock Nelson has been a revelation lately. He’s got 10 goals in his last nine games. While everyone focuses on the "Big Three," Nelson has quietly become the secondary scoring threat this team desperately needed.
Trade Deadline Speculation: Who’s on the Radar?
The trade deadline is about seven weeks away, but the Olympic freeze in February means we might see deals happen sooner than usual. The Avs have the best record in the league, but they have almost no cap space—about $1.3 million, give or take.
There are crazy rumors floating around about Artemi Panarin, but the math just doesn't work unless the Rangers keep half his salary and the Avs send a major contract back. It’s more likely MacFarland looks for a depth defenseman or a gritty bottom-six forward. Valeri Nichushkin is back and playing well—he even had a hat trick against the Blues on New Year's Day—but his history of injuries and "setbacks" makes the front office nervous. They need insurance.
What’s Next for the Burgundy and Blue?
The Avalanche have 10 games left before the Olympic break starts on February 5. This stretch is going to define whether they cruise into the postseason or limp there. They still have an 11-point lead over the Dallas Stars in the Central, so there’s no reason to panic yet.
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But they need to clean up the turnovers. The Nashville game was a festival of unforced errors. Martin Necas and Valeri Nichushkin both had brutal giveaways that led directly to goals. Bednar is going to be riding them hard in practice this week.
If you're looking for actionable insights on where this team goes from here, keep a close eye on the following:
- Monitor the Waiver Wire: The Avs are tight on the cap, so any depth additions might come from cheap league-minimum pickups.
- Track Toews’ Progress: If he returns before the end of January, the defensive structure should stabilize immediately.
- Watch the Olympic Rosters: Landeskog was named to Team Sweden, but his participation is now a massive question mark. If he stays home to rehab, it might actually be better for Colorado’s playoff hopes.
- Goalie Rotation: Expect to see Wedgewood get more starts if Blackwood doesn't bounce back in his next outing. They can't afford to let Blackwood "play through it" if it costs them more regulation points.
The talent is there. The record is there. Now it's just about surviving the injury bug and getting to the break in one piece.