Inside look at Colorado Avalanche

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the Colorado Avalanche.

The Colorado Avalanche are looking to rebound after a disappointing 2022-23 season.

Heavily favored to repeat after winning the Stanley Cup in 2022, Colorado withstood a rash of injuries to win the Central Division before losing to the Seattle Kraken in Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round.

That disappointment, coupled with some expiring contracts, fueled a significant roster makeover. The Avalanche traded for forwards Ryan Johansen from the Nashville Predators and Ross Colton from the Tampa Bay Lightning, who signed a four-year contract July 17.

Johansen is expected to play second-line center, a position that Colorado struggled to get production from last season after Nazem Kadri left as a free agent. A three-time 20-goal scorer, Johansen had 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists) in 79 games in his last full season, in 2021-22. The 31-year-old, like many on the Avalanche, is looking to bounce back after missing the final 27 games last season following surgery on his right leg after he was cut by a skate Feb. 21.

"I think I can be a great asset and fit in this group," Johansen said. "It's a team sport, but as an individual I know what I'm capable of and I know how I can play in this league. It's a hungry group. They've won. They know what it takes, and they want to continue to win and they want to do it again.

"And for me as an older guy in the League now and [having] been around, it's a real cool opportunity for me to come into this group and do what I can do and hope to get back to that same stage."

Colorado also signed free agent forwards Jonathan Drouin (one-year contract July 3) and Miles Wood (six-year contract July 3).

Drouin will be reunited with Nathan MacKinnon, his teammate with Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. MacKinnon played a role in bringing the 28-year-old forward to the Avalanche.

"They're a great team, been a great team for a lot of years now, and obviously 'Nate' had a lot of influence on that, but I'm just super excited to join such a good team," Drouin said. "I'm just hoping to help them in any way I can and try to find my game again. I know it's there. It's just a matter of confidence, and like I said, it's going to be a fresh start for me. And I'm very excited about that."

Wood brings the physicality of a power forward that the Avalanche will be lacking with captain Gabriel Landeskog out for the season following a cartilage transplant in his right knee on May 10.

These additions, including Colton, give coach Jared Bednar fresh forward depth.

"I think Coach Bednar will have a lot of flexibility and a lot of different options to try different things," Colorado general manager Chris MacFarland said. "I believe, obviously, Drouin's skill set will definitely play well with our other skilled players. So, I can easily envision him getting looks with Nathan [MacKinnon], [Ryan] Johansen -- whoever that 'Bedsy' wants to see in the top six.

"I would envision Coach will have some interesting types of things to mix and match on, including with Ross and Miles Wood."

The Avalanche also re-signed forward Andrew Cogliano (one-year contract July 1) and defensemen Jack Johnson (one-year contract July 2) and Bowen Byram (two-year contract July 1).

"'Bo' is a massive piece for us. He's one of the best young defensemen in the League," MacFarland said. "He's a big part of what we're trying to do and how we like to play. He drives things from the back end. He's got really good skill, and he's a really good, trusted defender."

Meanwhile, lack of space under the NHL salary cap ($83.5 million) and a desire to change direction resulted in the departure of free agent forwards Evan Rodrigues (Florida Panthers), J.T. Compher (Detroit Red Wings) and Denis Malgin (Zurich SC in Switzerland's National League), and defenseman Erik Johnson (Buffalo Sabres). Forward Alex Newhook was traded to the Montreal Canadiens.

Some of those open spots are now up for grabs among the younger players in the system.

"We'll still tinker around the edges I think, potentially, but we'll let it breathe," MacFarland said of his roster. "We feel we've got some kids that we're excited to see in training camp in the likes of Ben Meyers and [Jean-Luc] Foudy and [Oskar] Olausson and [Fredrik] Olofsson. So, we feel like we're in a good spot, but you're always looking to see if you can get better."