Colorado Avalanche fantasy projections for 2022-23

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, the fantasy hockey staff identified relevant players from the Colorado Avalanche. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the "NHL Fantasy on Ice" podcast.

MORE FANTASY COVERAGE:
Top 250 rankings
NOTES: These fantasy projections (for an 82-game season) are a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen and Anna Dua, and have been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past performance in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, projected line combinations, power-play usage, team goalie situations, injury history or concern, sleeper upside, anticipated regression or bounce-back candidacy, age, contract status and overall upside. The below totals are safe estimates that do not necessarily indicate each player's ceiling or floor and should be used as a basis for decision-making in all fantasy leagues. Players are listed below in order of
NHL.com
's top 250 rankings.
Avalanche 32 in 32: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects]
Cale Makar, D -- He won the Norris Trophy last season after leading NHL defensemen in goals (28), finishing second in points (86 in 77 games), plus/minus rating (plus-48), and shots on goal (240), and third in power-play points (34). Makar then led the Avalanche with 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, further solidifying his status as the top fantasy defenseman for this season.
NHL.com point projection for Makar: 90
Nathan MacKinnon, C -- Over the past five seasons, MacKinnon ranks third in the NHL in points (442 in 338 games) behind Edmonton Oilers forwards Connor McDavid (549 in 360) and Leon Draisaitl (479 in 367). He is also among the League leaders in shots on goal (1,472; second) and power-play points (152; third). MacKinnon, like Makar, is among the top five overall in NHL.com's rankings and should reach 100 points for the first time in his NHL career.
NHL.com point projection for MacKinnon: 107

Mikko Rantanen, C/RW-- No. 2 among dual-eligible forwards in Yahoo Fantasy, behind Draisaitl (C/LW), Rantanen is tied for eighth in the NHL in points (158 in 127 games) over the past two seasons. With him also tying for third in the League in power-play goals (16) last season, Rantanen sits atop NHL.com's fantasy right wing rankings and joins Makar and MacKinnon among the top 10 players overall.
NHL.com point projection for Rantanen: 98
Gabriel Landeskog, C/LW -- The forward had the best points-per-game average of his NHL career (1.16; 59 points in 51 games) last season and continued that production in the playoffs (22 in 20 games). Landeskog, who averages nearly two hits per game in his NHL career (1.98), should be considered a fringe top 20 fantasy forward who could still reach new heights (75 points is his NHL career high) if he and frequent linemates MacKinnon and Rantanen all stay healthy for a full season.
UPDATE: Landeskog (lower body) is likely to be out for the start of the season.
NHL.com point projection for Landeskog: 72
Devon Toews, D -- As part of a defense pair with Makar, Toews set NHL career highs in goals (13), assists (44) and points (57) in 66 games last season. He also led the League at his position in plus/minus rating (plus-52), was tied for ninth in points, and ranked fifth in even-strength points (45), making him a fringe top 10 fantasy defenseman.
NHL.com point projection for Toews: 60
Alexandar Georgiev, G -- He has fantasy breakout potential after being acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers and signing a three-year contract this offseason. Georgiev (.898 save percentage in 33 games last season) is ranked among NHL.com's top 20 fantasy goalies and is worth handcuffing with Pavel Francouz (.916 save percentage in 21 games) behind Colorado's elite offense (3.76 goals per game last season; fourth in NHL).
NHL.com win projection for Georgiev: 32
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Other COL players to consider in fantasy: Bowen Byram, D; Valeri Nichushkin, LW/RW; Pavel Francouz, G; Samuel Girard, D; Artturi Lehkonen, LW/RW; Alex Newhook, C/LW
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