Avalanche season preview: Johansen acquisition bolsters forward depth

The Avalanche didn't want it, but they did have the luxury of a long offseason after playing until June 26 the previous season. Yes, they won the Stanley Cup two seasons ago, so they wouldn't trade the summer of 2022 for anything, but they were eliminated by the Kraken on April 30, giving them nearly two more months to recover and prepare for this season. If Colorado can turn that into a positive, it will be set up for success again.