In the first installment of this series, we looked at the most obvious and straightforward lineup the Colorado Avalanche
could open next season with. You can read that scenario below.
But when you look back at the trade deadline, the first thought that immediately came to mind after the Avalanche acquired both Nicolas Roy and Nazem Kadri was that it was center insurance.
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Jack Drury
's future with the team was uncertain. Roy could play the wing for the rest of the 2026 run, but he could also slot in as the 4C in Drury's absence.
Now it's July. Drury is gone. Roy as the 4C is a legitimate option.
Scenario 2: Loading Up Down the Middle
Artturi Lehkonen
— Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Jaden Schwartz
– Brock Nelson — Gabriel Landeskog
Zachary L'Heureux — Nazem Kadri — Gavin Brindley
Parker Kelly
— Nicolas Roy — Logan O'Connor
Devon Toews
— Cale Makar
Brett Kulak
— Sam Malinski
Josh Manson
— Brent Burns
Noah Juulsen
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
This scenario still keeps the Avalanche's top six relatively intact. Jaden Schwartz remains in the direct replacement role for Valeri Nichushkin
, while the biggest changes come in the bottom six.
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Instead of immediately forcing Fedor Svechkov
into Drury's old role, the Avalanche could slide Roy into the fourth-line center spot, keeping Kadri on the third line.
The biggest question becomes what that does to the wingers around No. 91. Can he play with two young wingers? Or would you need to separate Parker Kelly and Logan O'Connor to spread the veterans out?
Honestly, I wouldn't be against the first option. Especially if L'Heureux is one of those wingers.
When the offseason began, I thought Kadri and Michael Bunting
would be an intriguing combination on the third line. The Avalanche didn't sign Bunting, but they did add another player who brings a similar type of competitive edge in L'Heureux.
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I'd love to see L'Heureux get an opportunity alongside Kadri at some point, perhaps even from the start of training camp.
Kadri has always been at his best when playing with linemates who can match his competitiveness. L'Heureux brings the physicality, while still having enough skill to keep up, albeit that skill hasn't popped at the NHL level yet.
On the right side, Brindley becomes the wild card.
The 2023 second-round pick has to continue on his development track from early last season. His game is built around many of the traits that could translate well alongside Kadri. He's relentless, he competes, he isn't afraid to play with an edge, and he has enough skill to make plays offensively. We saw it for a brief stint.
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Basically, the Avalanche would be betting on development.
Of course, you could always move O'Connor into that spot and give the third line a veteran presence. But if you're committing to this scenario, I wouldn't want Brindley pushed down to the fourth line.
At that point, you'd probably want Fedor Svechkov in the lineup instead.
Why It Works
The Avalanche front office has spent the last two seasons rebuilding their center depth. Now they have it.
Colorado has an opportunity to create matchup problems by distributing their four most capable centers throughout the lineup.
This scenario also allows the Avalanche to be patient with Svechkov.
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The organization clearly believes he can eventually become their 4C. It might be as early as opening night. But if not, he'd probably want to develop into that role permanently by the time Roy inevitably departs as a free agent next July.
There is no reason to rush him into that role immediately unless he earns it.
Meanwhile, Roy's transition to the fourth line should be relatively seamless. His best NHL season came while centering Vegas
' fourth line during its 2023 Stanley Cup run, where he played alongside Keegan Kolesar
and William Carrier
. He doesn't necessarily need elite offensive talent around him to make an impact.
And if Kelly and O'Connor remain together, that chemistry gives Roy a reliable foundation to step into.
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Biggest Questions
Can two of Brindley, L'Heureux, Svechkov, or T.J. Hughes handle top-nine minutes?This is the biggest question with this lineup. If Kadri remains the third-line center, Roy moves to the fourth line, and Kelly/O'Connor stay together, then Colorado is asking two young forwards to become legitimate top-nine contributors. That's not a small responsibility. The Avalanche have prospects who could push for those roles, but there is still a level of uncertainty.
Can Roy fit well with O'Connor/Kelly?I believe he can, but it is still something worth monitoring. Roy has shown throughout his career that he can drive play without needing offensive stars around him. His role with Vegas proved that. The question isn't whether Roy can play fourth-line minutes. It's whether Colorado sees that as the best way to use him.
Can Kadri keep up?Age is the obvious concern. Kadri will turn 36 years old in October, and Colorado would be asking him to play alongside two younger, faster wingers. But his time in Calgary
showed that he can still succeed while playing with younger players. His experience, competitiveness, and ability to drive offense should allow him to adapt.
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Coming Next
What if Jared Bednar loaded up the top six with all of his best forwards?
I'll dive into that next.
The post Building the Avalanche's Lineup: Loading Up Down the Middle
appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now
.
