These Avalanche players had big years for the club.

The Colorado Avalanche play their final 2023-24 regular season game on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. Overall, it has been another successful campaign for the club, even if it struggled a bit down the stretch.

The Avalanche are once again one of the top teams in the Western Conference, and a big reason for it has been because of a few of their players having career years. Let's discuss three of them now. 

Nathan MacKinnon 

Nathan MacKinnon has been a superstar in the NHL for several seasons now. Last season, the 28-year-old set previous career-highs with 42 goals, 69 assists, and 111 points. As spectacular as his 2022-23 campaign was, he has somehow been significantly better in 2023-24. 

In 81 games this season, MacKinnon has reached new career-highs with 51 goals, 87 assists, and 138 points. Because of his remarkable production, he is currently among the favorites in the Hart Memorial Trophy race. He is having one of the best seasons of the salary cap era, so naturally, it has been a career year for the Halifax native. 

Jonathan Drouin 

After a rough tenure with the Montreal Canadiens, Jonathan Drouin finally got the change of scenery that he desperately needed this offseason by signing a one-year deal with the Avalanche. It reunited him with junior teammate MacKinnon, and it's clear that the winger made the right choice going to Colorado.

Drouin, 29, has completely resurrected his career in Colorado and has put together his best season yet. In 78 games for the club this year, he has 19 goals and a career-high 56 points. 

Logan O'Connor 

Logan O'Connor's 2023-24 campaign came to an end in early March when the forward had season-ending hip surgery. It was a tough way for the 27-year-old to go out this year, as he was in the middle of a career season. 

O'Connor cemented himself as a key part of the Avalanche's forward group this season, posting a career-high 13 goals to go along with 25 points in 57 games. While he did not pass his career-high of 26 points, he achieved that in 82 games last season. Clearly, the gritty forward took his offense to a new level this year, but his injury, unfortunately, cut his season short. 

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