2011-12 Record: 41-35-6 (88 points)
missed the playoffs
Captain: Gabriel Landeskog
The Avalanche are a team that is still growing into their roles. Now, with Landeskog being named captain, the team will definitely have some more growing pains. Landeskog acquitted himself quite well, showing a maturity beyond his nineteen years on the way to a Calder Trophy. Matt Duchene saw his numbers fall off a little, and it will be expected that he will increase his scoring totals. The blue line is led by Erik Johnson, but it is now or never for the former first overall pick. He hasn't been a bust, but compared to fellow 2006 first rounders in Jonathan Toews, Jordan Staal, and Niklas Backstrom, he hasn't justified the pick as much. PA Parenteau was the team's big signing, and while it will remain to be seen if his numbers last season was the product of being on the same line as John Tavares, he will certainly be a help to Duchene's success this season. Goaltending is still a sore spot, but the team is confident that Semyon Varlamov will build off his second half, where he played well down the stretch. Jean-Sebatsien Giguere figures to play 20-25 games as a backup.
Prediction: 14th in the West
Band: Turisas
A band with so much promise, Turisas laid an egg with Stand Up and Fight. The Avs looked like they were going to be moving up after a 2009-10 season that saw them make the playoffs. They too, laid an egg the following season and would lay another egg last season.
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