The Colorado Avalanche had been the primary group to clinch a spot within the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and now they’ve received the Presidents’ Trophy because the league’s prime group.
The Avs will now have home-ice benefit all through the whole thing of the 2026 playoffs, together with the Stanley Cup Final, ought to they make it there.
With the Avalanche securing the league’s prime spot, this is a have a look at the up to date NHL standings.
NHL standings (x- clinched, e- eradicated)
The Avalanche need to make it previous the second spherical this spring for the primary time since their Stanley Cup win in 2022.
The franchise could have had that in thoughts after they acquired Nazem Kadri, a key a part of their run to that Cup, in addition to defenseman Brett Kulak forward of the March commerce deadline.
Kadri has now added depth to a ahead lineup starring the NHL’s main goalscorer in Nathan MacKinnon, whereas Kulak has slotted into the Avs’ prime pairing alongside Cale Makar.
With two extra 30-goal scorers in Martin Nečas and Brock Nelson and the goalie tandem of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood combining for a .910 save share, the Avalanche will hope they’ve sufficient depth behind Makar and MacKinnon to make a deep run this spring.
