Alternative Universe Avs (NHL w/ fictional players)

[BirdWatcher]

So we started this season with the open question of whether the youth movement, which has resulted in three straight non-playoff seasons for the Avalanche, was about to pay dividends.

Although the final results of this season and upcoming post-season are unknowable, with the Avs having won all 4 of their games played this month and only 2 more regular season games left, and the team now having 103 points, which is just 1 point shy of their previous high of 104 in our first season with the team (2020-2021), it seems the answer has to be yes. Yes, the youth movement is paying off and the team is headed in the right direction. Or at least that is the conclusion the evidence leads to at this time.


Let's take a look at the past 3 games:







As was previously mentioned, the toughest opponent the Avs would play to finish out the regular season was the Calgary Flames. But in fact, as wasn't noted earlier, the Avs actually played the Flames very well this year, and won all 3 meetings between the teams this season.

[BirdWatcher]

In the end the Avs do indeed find themselves returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2022-2023 season and in fact finish with their highest point total (105) since we took over the team.
The Dallas Stars, a team that has been on the rise the past 3 seasons, however outlast us for both the Central Division title and the best record in the Western Conference.
Calgary, who the Avs defeated 4-2 on the road in one of the final regular season games to sweep the season series, won the Pacific Division race and finished with the 3rd highest points total in the conference.

Over in the Eastern Conference, powerhouses like the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens had dominant seasons and the New York Rangers were also quite strong and had the best record in the Metropolitan Division, led by dynamic goal scorer and playmaker, who won both the Art Ross Trophy and the Maurice Richard Trophy last season and once again led the league in total points while falling just a goal shy of leading in goals scored as well.

Speaking of awards, a few Avalanche players are finalists for awards, including rookie left winger Garrett Van Hoof, who was our 7th round pick in 2025 and quietly had a strong season making him a finalist for the Calder Trophy. As previously detailed, another under-rated performer for the Avs is second-line left winger Milo Holland, who finds himself in the running for the Selke. Head Coach Jared Bednar is a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy.



The playoffs matchups look like this:




The Avalanche first face the St. Louis Blues, who statistically are the underdog but who, like the Avs, enter the playoffs with no significant injuries.