Avalanche reshuffle around MacKinnon and Makar after a Conference Finals sweep

The Colorado Avalanche remain one of the Western Conference's elite teams, but their grip on the top of the Central Division is loosening. After winning the division in 2025-26 only to be swept in the Conference Finals, Colorado spent the offseason reshuffling an aging roster around its superstar duo — and one massive contract question hangs over the summer.

A roster makeover

General manager Chris MacFarland was aggressive in reshaping the supporting cast. The Avalanche moved several notable pieces — trading away forwards to create cap flexibility — and used the savings to re-sign veteran defensemen and add complementary forwards like Jaden Schwartz. The moves were about retooling around the core rather than tearing anything down, but they reflect a team recalibrating after falling short of the Cup Final. Colorado is still dangerous; it's just no longer the unquestioned class of its division.

The Makar question

The biggest storyline is Cale Makar's contract. The elite defenseman is entering the final year of his deal and is eligible for an extension, and while it's hard to imagine him not eventually re-signing, getting it done this offseason — rather than letting it linger through the season — is a priority. Alongside Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado has two of the best players in the world, and that alone keeps the Avalanche in the contender conversation.

Season outlook

Colorado enters 2026-27 as a contender, but in a Central Division where the competition is rising. The Avalanche's ceiling remains high — a roster with MacKinnon and Makar can beat anyone — but questions about the team's age and depth are legitimate after a Conference Finals sweep exposed them. The Makar extension, the reshaped supporting cast, and whether Colorado can get back over the hump define the season. This is still a Stanley Cup-caliber core, and the Avalanche have the star power to make another deep run. But the margin at the top of the West is thinner than it used to be, and Colorado will have to prove it can close the gap it fell short of a year ago.