Three questions facing Colorado Avalanche

NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 31 teams from Nov. 16-Dec. 16. Today, three important questions facing the Colorado Avalanche.

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1. Do they have a No. 1 goalie?

The Avalanche acquired Philipp Grubauer in a trade with the Washington Capitals on June 22, 2018, hoping he would replace Semyon Varlamov as their No. 1 goalie. However, because of injuries and inconsistent play, that hasn't happened.
Grubauer was 18-12-4 with a 2.63 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in 36 games last season, but he sustained two lower-body injuries, including against the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round, and was outplayed by rookie Pavel Francouz (21-7-4, 2.41 GAA, .923 save percentage).
"Obviously, we're very comfortable with Grubauer and Francouz," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said last month. "It's unfortunate they got both hurt in the playoffs (Francouz was injured following Game 4 against Dallas), but we expect them to be fully recovered and not have those issues next year."

2. Can the defensemen continue to improve and be physical?

The Avalanche ranked sixth in the NHL last season in goals against per game (2.71) and tied for 13th on the penalty kill (81.4 percent) with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In Jared Bednar's previous three seasons as coach, Colorado ranked 27th in the NHL in goals against per game (3.07) and tied for 20th on the penalty kill (79.5 percent) with the Winnipeg Jets.
However, the Avalanche traded their biggest physical presence, defenseman Nikita Zadorov (6-foot-6, 235 pounds), who led them in hits last season (175), to the Chicago Blackhawks for forward Brandon Saad, meaning someone is going to have to step up and fill that role.
"We feel, [Ryan Graves], he's a big guy (6-5, 220) ... we feel with him, Erik [Johnson], Ian [Cole], they give us a physical presence," Sakic said. "Cale [Makar] can play a physical style too. You don't want him banging out there, but he's a strong kid (5-11, 187), he won't shy away. We feel our defense is going to be fine."

3. Will pending free agents be re-signed before next season?

Colorado has big decisions to make ahead of next offseason as a number of its key players are set to become free agents, including forward Gabriel Landeskog, Saad, Makar and Grubauer.
Sakic said the Avalanche have started a dialogue with Landeskog, their captain, who can become an unrestricted free agent, and the team has leverage with Makar, a restricted free agent. But the futures of Grubauer and Saad, who can each become an unrestricted free agent, are less clear.
"We haven't had any discussions," Saad said. "I think it's just a feeling-out process, making sure I'm in love with it, and obviously they have to want me for a long period of time. But that's definitely somewhere I could see myself playing out my career."