The Colorado Avalanche have joined the 2023-24 Boston Bruins as the only two teams since the 1979 NHL expansion to record one or fewer losses leading up to American Thanksgiving.
The Avalanche currently hold an unbelievable 17-1-3 record, and are on a 10 game win streak that includes three straight shutouts.
They are averaging the most goals for per game with 4.09, and the least goals against with 2.09. Their number one goalie, Scott Wedgewood, has also been playing at an extremely high level. He holds a .918 save percentage and is only allowing an average of 2.09 goals per game which ranks third in the league amongst qualified goalies. Sure, he has an elite defence in front of him, but his play shouldn't go unnoticed.
When a team is as well rounded as the Avalanche are this year, they're tough to beat. However, sometimes it happens.
The Bruins, who started 14-1-3, went on to finish with 109 points, before losing to the Florida Panthers in the second round of the playoffs.
Do you think the Avalanche are bound for the Stanley Cup or will they fall short like the Bruins did?Nov 27, 2025 
Colorado AvalancheColorado Avalanche Cale Makar has been one of the best defencemen since he entered the league in 2019. He's won numerous accolades, including the prestigious Conn Smythe and Norris Trophies.
Naturally, the Avalanche made it a priority to lock him up early, which they did. In July 2021, he signed a 6-year, $54 million extension with an annual value of $9 million. At the time, it was a sizeable extension--and a much more expensive one could be coming soon.
The NHL salary cap was set at $81.5 million in 2021, but it has since risen to $95.5 million. It's a new era for the NHL, as it's not only superstars making double digits a year.
In September of this year, Kirill Kaprizov set the record for the most expensive contract by annual average value, when he signed an extension with the Minnesota Wild. The contract has an annual average value of $17 million.
But with Makar's contract expiring next year, it wouldn't be hard to see him become the first player make $20 million a year.
He is an elite contributor on both sides of the ice, and is also one of the best playoff performers in the league. There's no doubt he'll re-sign, and the Avalanche are prepared. After Rantanen's departure, they're projected to have $26.85 million in cap space in next offseason, most of which they'll likely dedicate to their star defenceman.
Do you think Makar will make $20 million a year on his next contract?Oct 29, 2025 Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche 
