Avalanche’s Superpower Suddenly Looks Shockingly Human

Jim Parsons of Heavy argues that the Colorado Avalanche are facing significant issues due to struggling special teams units following recent losses to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators. While Colorado won the Presidents' Trophy last season, the team is currently holding onto a Western Conference wild-card spot. The power play continues to sputter in crucial moments, with Parsons noting that Nathan MacKinnon is over-handling the puck while teammates remain too passive.

Parsons also highlights a steep decline in Colorado's penalty kill, which dropped from an NHL-best 84.6% last season to 17th overall at 76.9%. The piece suggests that championship fatigue and passive play may be catching up to the core roster, warning that failure to fix these special teams problems could jeopardize Colorado's status as a top contender.