Totally Serious Colorado Avalanche Regular Season Awards – The Hockey Writers –

It is hard to ask for much more than what the Colorado Avalanche did this season. They had everything locked up long before beating the Calgary Flames 3-1 on Tuesday night, and their biggest obstacle will likely be themselves as they begin the pursuit of the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup.

With a few days left before the playoffs kick off, we thought it would be fun to take a completely serious and not at all jokey approach to issuing some regular seasons awards to a team that will likely collect a lot of hardware.

Biggest Surprise – Scott Wedgewood

How could it be anyone else? Wedgewood went from career backup to likely Vezina Trophy candidate overnight. He went 30-6-6(!!), starting the most games (44) ever in his career. The fact that he turned in career-highs basically across the board only makes it even more impressive.

One half of the Lumber Yard with Mackenzie Blackwood, Wedgewood finished seventh in wins despite playing 10-20 fewer games than the names above him. Of goalies with at least 25 starts, no one did better than his .920 save percentage and 2.07 goals against average.

If Wedgewood can backstop the Avalanche to a title, it would arguably be the single greatest one-season anomaly in NHL history alongside Jose Theodore’s 2001-02 Hart Trophy win. The Avalanche are an EA Sports video game come to life but part of that is because Wedgewood has been out of his mind.

Biggest Disappointment – Valeri Nichushkin

It was a real chore to find a disappointment on this team and Nichushkin is as close as it gets to fitting the bill. The big Russian has flashed 25-30-goal potential in the past, often dealing with injuries for a significant part of the season. His 71 games played this season are the most since 2015-16, but that didn’t seem to translate production-wise.

Nichushkin was fine – 17 goals, 47 points – but not quite what we’ve come to expect. Given his status in the top six, it feels like 25 points and 55-60 points should have been more realistic. He has the size and skills to be effective in the playoffs, and that can help redeem his subpar regular season.

“Got That Dog in Them” Award – Brock Nelson

Some were wondering if the trade for Nelson late last season was worth the investment, especially after he had a substandard round against the Dallas Stars. Boy, did he show that everyone was wrong and the Avalanche got a deal.

Nelson scored 33 times and added 32 assists in 80 games, giving the Avalanche one of the most dangerous second-line centers in the league. Nelson has been the long-sought answer for that position since Nazem Kadri left (and they brought him back for good measure), and would probably be a top center for half the teams in the league.

“I’m So Sorry for Being So Wrong” Award – Gabriel Landeskog

A lot of people had doubts about how effective Landeskog could be after such a long road back to the league. And it’s not even like he had otherworldly numbers – 14 goals, 35 points in 60 games – but it’s the kind of season he had that earns him this spot.

He had an injury that nearly cost him the Olympics. He battled through nicks and dings. Cale Makar tried to end him with a shot to the goodies that dented his freaking cup. That he even contributed as much as he did is impressive in its own right. He might not be the Landeskog of old but he’s a gritty, hard-nosed competitor like no other.

Mr. Electric Award – Cale Makar

This could have gone to Nathan MacKinnon as well because there is nothing quite like seeing those choppy steps of his going a mile a minute as he bears down on some poor defenseman. That said, Makar just does things with a grace and fluidity that leaves you slack-jawed.

Take his return against the Flames. Trailing 1-0, Makar started a rush up ice, banked the puck past a defender, kept his stride, retrieved his own bank pass, and fed a perfect pass to Artturi Lehkonen for the tying goal. That’s a routine play for Makar. The effortless dancing, cutting, and shimmying at the blueline is downright entrancing, and will bring the crowd to their feet several times a game.

Colorado Avalanche MVP – Nathan MacKinnon

With all due respect to Makar, Wedgewood, and all the other members of this team that had excellent seasons, MacKinnon is the lifeforce of the Avalanche. He is a relentless, competitive psychopath who demands the best out of himself and those around him. And don’t even get him started about pasta.

MacKinnon will win his first Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goalscorer with 53 tucks. His 127 points are good for third in the league and are the second-highest of his career. He will almost certainly be a finalist for the Hart Trophy, the billionth time he’s done so in his career. The Avalanche would be a good team without MacKinnon, but they are a potential all-time team because of him.

More Hardware Coming?

There is potential for the Avalanche to have the Hart, Norris, Vezina, Conn Smythe, and Stanley Cup when all is said and done. They ran the table in the regular season, but that was never the goal and someone like MacKinnon won’t settle for less than a lot of silver (not that one).

The Avalanche have a big landmine to face in the Dallas Stars, but this could be one of the great seasons in NHL history when all is said and done. The regular season was just the opening act.