2001 or 2022 Colorado Avalanche?

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The Colorado Avalanche are attempting to win their third Stanley Cup in franchise history this week. They last won in 2001, with a roster containing Hall of Famers: Patrick Roy, Joe Sakic, Adam Foote, Peter Forsberg, Ray Bourque, and Rob Blake. This current iteration contains some guys that will unquestionably end up as Hall of Famers, but it is still so early in their careers it feels difficult to make that call. Players like Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar, Devon Toews.

One of the discussions that is constantly being had this post season, is what we are watching today better than the dominance of the 2001 squad? I don’t think any single person on earth would argue that Darcy Kuemper is a better goalkeeper than Patrick Roy was, so that portion of the argument safely goes to the 2001 squad. But, this current offense, defense and the depth of the roster is absolutely insane.

Season Stats

2001 Avalanche

Regular Season Record – 52-16-10-4

Post Season Record – 16-7

Goals Scored Average – 3.29 goals per game

Goals Against Average – 2.34 goal per game

4^th best offense that season and 3^rd best defense that season

Additional Notes

Sakic won the Hart and Lady Byng
Patrick Roy was 5^th in Vezina voting
2 Avalanche defensemen were in the top 4 for the James Norris
2 Hattricks on the season

2022 Avalanche

Regular Season Record – 56-19-7

Post Season Record – 16-3

Goals Scored Average – 3.75 goals per game

Goals Against Average – 2.83 goal per game

3^rd best offense that season and 7^th best defense that season

Additional Notes

Cale Makar wins the Norris
Seven of their top 10 points scorers, missed more than 10 regular season games
Seven Hattricks on the season

Narratives and Styles

A few things that were incredibly apparent for the 2001 version of the Colorado Avalanche were that Joe Sakic was the best player on the ice most nights, Patrick Roy was one of the top three best goalies in the history of the NHL, their top line was insane with Sakic, Hejduk, Tanguay, and they had some complete Rockstar’s at the blueline with Adam Foote and Ray Bourque. This current squad also has some things that stand out, they are the fastest team on the ice night in and night out, they created a brand of hockey that requires defensemen to pinch down on the offensive side and get involved in the play, when Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar or Mikko Rantanen dig into their bag of tricks, they can make any defense look foolish at any given second. The 2001 Avalanche had 18 10+ point (goals + assists) getters. The 2022 Colorado Avalanche have 22 such players.

The 2001 version had Joe Sakic who had one of the most memorable NHL seasons in an Avalanche sweater scoring 54 goals and netting 12 game winners, both Avalanche team records. The 2022 version has 12 guys that were double digit goal scorers this past regular season. The 2022 version had arguably the best line in hockey with MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Landeskog, but they also might have had one of the best second lines in hockey with Val Nichushkin, Andre Burakovsky, and Arturri Lehkonen. Not a single defenseman scored more than 10 goals in 2001, but the 2022 team had 2 (would be 3 if Bowen Byram played more than 30 games) and Cale Makar scored 28 goals.

Cale Makar has scored 35 goals so far through the playoffs and regular season combined, the entire 2001 defensive core scored 48 goals, while playing five more playoff games than Makar and Makar missing five regular season games.

I think the 2001 Avalanche was one of the most physical and dominant teams during their time with highlight tape showing Rob Blake and Adam Foote laying big hits all over the ice. Patrick Roy kept them in every single game. Peter Forsberg being a menace on the ice, dropping a shoulder and punishing forecheckers. Captain Joe Sakic was the runner up for the Selke Award, for the top defensive forward in hockey in 2001. The rule change to not allow tied games was introduced in the 2005-06 season, but this squad had 10 tied games in 2001. I wonder how many more games they would have won if those 10 games went to a shootout?

The 2022 Colorado Avalanche really had two forms, they were fast, tough, focused, and skilled roster early in the season, but battled injuries all year. Then at the trade deadline they got Josh Manson, Arturri Lehkonen, Andrew Cogliano, and Nico Sturm and they got bigger stronger and meaner with those moves. But the crazy part, is that they didn’t lose any speed, toughness, or finesse. They are a battle tested unit, that has experienced hardship, with one of the most dominant offenses in hockey, coupled with toughness, grit and physicality.

Conclusion

I think it will always be impossible to know which team was better but comparing the two dominant teams that were the top units in their respective seasons, seeing the similarities and differences really helps shine the light on the variances between eras of professional sports. The 2001 Avs were a good defensive team with a generational goalie and an offense that could score on anyone. The 2022 Avs are a great defensive club with a solid goalie, and an offense that could score six goals on any given night.

The game was different back then, defense and goal tending won championships, and those 3-2 close games determined who the champions would be. This season’s Avs have won their fair share of overtime and close games, but they have also skated teams out of the building and dominated a ton of games, 43 games won by 2 or more goals in playoffs and regular season combined and scored six or more goals in 21/100 total games.

The Avalanche must win one more game to be immortalized in history on Lord Stanley’s Cup, and they have three shots to get that single win. Tonight, in Denver, the Avalanche will finish the job and complete their task! This core of MacKinnon, Kadri, Landeskog, Mikko, Cale, Erik Johnson, JT Compher, Burakovsky and Val Nichushkin have been so close the last few seasons, but they know what it takes, and the entire city of Denver has their back! Scream loud if you’re at the game and don’t riot and break stuff in downtown Denver after the game!

#GoAvs #3rdStanleyCup #FinishTheJob #Believe #Avalanche

About Post Author

Aaron Hubert

Major Colorado sports fan who was once, for an entire year, a paid writer covering the entire Colorado sports scene. I grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado, a huge fan of all the professional sports Colorado had to offer. I played Football and Basketball in High School. I attended Colorado State University for undergrad, earning my degree in Business with a concentration in Computer Information Systems. I work as a professional Product Manager in the software development space for Fanatics.com the sports apparel company. I am a Fantasy Football and Fantasy Hockey participant, not sure if that will ever be worked into these writings, but keeping my option open! I really enjoy the process of being a huge fan of sports, being a passionate Colorado sports advocate, and using social media and writing to express my beliefs and opinions about sports.

aaronh92@hotmail.com

http://www.centennial-sports.com