The Colorado Avalanche hit the 2024-25 season with expectations of heading again to the Stanley Cup. However after an up-and-down common season, one which noticed the crew overhaul its goaltending tandem, their Stanley Cup hopes ended prematurely.
When the mud settled on their first-round exit by the hands of the Dallas Stars, questions started rising relating to what went flawed for the Colorado Avalanche within the 2024-25 season.
So, right here’s a take a look at the three turning factors that derailed the Avalanche’s season.
3 turning factors that derailed Colorado Avalanche’s 2024-25 season
#3 Buying and selling Mikko Rantanen
Arguably, the most important storyline for the Colorado Avalanche in 2024-25 was the Mikko Rantanen saga. Rantanen entered the season within the ultimate 12 months of his contract with the Avalanche. The prevailing knowledge on the time was that the Avalanche and Rantanen would agree on an extension.
That was not the case, nevertheless. The Avalanche panicked to a sure diploma and moved the famous person winger to the Carolina Hurricanes. The commerce landed Martin Necas, who didn’t fairly reside as much as expectations.
Shedding Rantanen was vital for the Avalanche because it eliminated chunk of the crew’s offensive energy, leaving the remaining gamers to select up the slack. Superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar have been unable to hold the crew previous the Stars within the first spherical, regardless of historic seasons.
#2 Shedding back-to-back OT video games in first spherical
The Colorado Avalanche may have swept the Dallas Stars within the first spherical of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Avs had a dominant efficiency in Sport 1 of their opening spherical collection, beating Dallas 5-1.
The Avalanche and Stars performed two consecutive extra time video games, ending in bitter disappointment for the Avalanche. As a substitute of taking a 3-0 collection lead, the Avalanche discovered themselves down 2-1.
Colorado rallied to win Sport 4, 4-0, in a dominant efficiency. Had the Avalanche received each extra time contests, the collection would have been over rapidly. The collection went the gap as a substitute, with the Avalanche falling in Sport 7.
#1 Working into Mikko Rantanen within the playoffs
In what may solely be described as a merciless twist of irony, the Avalanche bumped into Mikko Rantanen within the playoffs. The Hurricanes traded Rantanen to the Dallas Stars on the commerce deadline, placing Rantanen on a collision course with the Avalanche.
Rantanen delivered the loss of life blow towards his former teammates, notching a hat trick in Sport 7 to finish the Avalanche’s playoff hopes. Rantanen additionally had a four-point effort within the Stars’ Sport 6 loss.
Rantanen notched eight whole factors within the final two video games, carrying his unbelievable scorching streak into the second spherical towards the Winnipeg Jets.
Given Rantanen’s otherworldly efficiency, it’s believable to imagine that the Avalanche may have despatched the Stars packing had it not been for Rantanen.
Edited by Nestor Quixtan