3 Under-the-Radar Avalanche Storylines to Follow In 2026-27

September 15, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With Thursday marking the official start of Colorado Avalanche training camp, I thought it was a good time to bring back an idea I tried last season.

Visit turconews.click for more information.

Heading into 2025-26, there were several front-and-center storylines we were all following. Among them, how would Martin Necas fit into the Avalanche’s system over a full season? Was Brock Nelson truly the answer at 2C? Could Jack Drury finally settle into the third-line center role?

I wrote about three other storylines that weren’t quite as obvious but were worth keeping an eye on. You can click below to revisit that story and see how each one ultimately played out.

Also Read:3 Under-the-Radar Avalanche Storylines to Follow This Season

So, let’s give it another go.

Here are three under-the-radar storylines I’ll be watching closely throughout the 2026-27 season.

Will Brent Burns Voluntarily Sit Games to Rest?

The Avalanche decided to run it back with the same defensive group that finished last season.

That group saw Sam Malinski grow into a second-pair role, and new addition Brett Kulak fit nicely alongside him. It also saw Josh Manson move to the left side and play effectively there, allowing him to spend most of his time alongside veteran Brent Burns when the games started to matter more.

Burns is now 41 years old and enters the season with an Ironman streak of 1,007 consecutive games. He’s just 57 games away from Phil Kessel’s NHL record.

With Burns potentially entering his final NHL season — and with a Stanley Cup presumably being the one major accomplishment still missing from his resumé — it’ll be interesting to see whether he’s willing to voluntarily sit out games once the record is broken.

The NHL is expanding to 84 games this season, adding another layer to the equation. There were already stretches late last season where the effects of a long campaign appeared to catch up with Burns. Two additional games won’t help.

Once he gets the record, would it make sense for Burns to take some nights off?

That’s something I’ll be watching closely. I could see a scenario where this was discussed between Burns and the Avalanche before he re-signed for another season. The record is within reach, and once it’s secured, there would still be plenty of time for Burns to strategically manage his workload and enter the playoffs as fresh as possible.

For a player chasing one final Stanley Cup, that could ultimately matter more than playing all 84 regular-season games.

Also Read:Avalanche Announce 2026 Training Camp Roster

Who Will Permanently Slot in at 4C?

The Avalanche spent two seasons trying to develop Jack Drury into a third-line center before coming to the same conclusion both times, that he was better suited for the fourth line.

And boy, was he good there.

Alongside Parker Kelly, Logan O’Connor and, at times, Joel Kiviranta, Drury became one of the more effective fourth-line centers in the NHL. Now that he’s in Nashville, the Avalanche have several candidates who could take over the role.

But who ultimately earns Jared Bednar’s trust to be the permanent 4C when the playoffs begin?

The most obvious candidate is Fedor Svechkov, one of the players Colorado acquired from Nashville in the Drury trade. Svechkov has the opportunity to establish himself in that role from the start of the season.

If he doesn’t, Bednar has another option he’s used before. Kelly has experience at center and could move back into the middle if necessary, although we know he’s more effective on the wing.

Nic Roy is another possibility. The veteran forward was the fourth-line center for the Vegas Golden Knights during their 2023 Stanley Cup run, though he’s primarily played right wing on Colorado’s third line since arriving.

And then there are the rookies.

T.J. Hughes is perhaps the most intriguing option. The 24-year-old played center at Michigan but has aspirations to become a top-nine, and potentially even a top-six, forward in Colorado, which would likely mean shifting to the wing.

That makes 4C an interesting spot to watch early in camp. The Avalanche have plenty of options. The question is which one Bednar ultimately trusts when the games matter most.

Also Read:Brett Kulak Excited for Stability with Avalanche After ‘Tough’ Year

How Many Games Will Ilya Nabokov Play — and Why?

When Ilya Nabokov met with the media last week alongside a translator, the 22-year-old goaltender made his objective for this season pretty clear. He wants to play as many NHL games as possible.

Nabokov is under contract for only one season, but he’ll be an RFA with team control after that. He didn’t make the jump from Russia with the intention of becoming a permanent American Hockey League goaltender.

He wants to play in the NHL. More importantly, he wants to earn his opportunity.

So, how many games will Nabokov actually play for the Avalanche?

And perhaps more importantly, what will be the reason he gets them?

Will it be because of a long-term injury to Mackenzie Blackwood or Scott Wedgewood? Will one of the veterans struggle enough that Colorado decides it needs a different look? Or will Nabokov simply dominate the AHL to the point that the Avalanche have no choice but to give him an extended opportunity?

There are plenty of different ways this could play out, which is what makes Nabokov’s season so intriguing.

The Avalanche clearly believe he has NHL potential. Now we’ll see how quickly he can turn that potential into NHL games, especially with two NHL goalies ahead of him on the depth chart.

Also Read:Quick Thoughts From Avalanche’s Two Rookie Tournament Games

Related Headlines