The Colorado Avalanche have had their ups and downs this season, and the nightmare finally came to an end.
To say it's been a great season for the Colorado Avalanche would be generous. While the team has had its high moments throughout the season, it also comes with (many) low moments. Today, we say goodbye to and mourn the nightmare of a season. The 2016-2017 season was a complete disaster, to put it lightly. Unfortunately, the Avs were no where near reaching the playoffs. Had we simply looked at the red flags from the beginning of the season, perhaps the blow would have been easier. As soon as Erik Johnson broke his fibula, the season was over. It didn't help that head coach Patrick Roy quit in August of last year either. What's so disappointing is the fact that at the beginning of the season the Avs looked to be heading in the direction of the playoffs, winning their first two games. It gave the team and fans high hopes, only to have them come crashing down at their feet. For two months, the team painstakingly moved along.
But things only managed to get worse...
It seems that the team lost focus in their identity. A few years back, the Avs got tossed around in a playoff series by the Minnesota Wild. Their tactic? Getting bigger and adding veterans that proved to be past their prime, at least for the current season.
The latest additions of Matt Neito, Mark Barber, Sven Andrighetto, J.T. Compher, and Tyson Jost gave the team a little hope, but it was not enough to save the horrendous season. Those additions were to achieve Joe Sakic's goal of getting "younger and faster." While those additions didn't aid in saving this past season, it certainly gives some hope and optimism for next season.
For now, we're putting the 2016-2017 season behind us and (nervously) anticipating the future.
What do you think of the Avs nightmare of a season? Is there potential for a better season next year? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Featured photo of USA Today Sports.
