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The Best Colorado Avalanche Players of All Time

Ryan Womeldorf

Jun 06, 2023

5 min read

When it comes to the Colorado Avalanche, there is no shortage of incredible players who have represented the burgundy and blue over the years. From talented scorers to standout defensemen, the franchise has seen its fair share of legends take the ice. In this article, we will be highlighting the five best Avalanche players in the history of the franchise.

Despite being a relatively new franchise, the Avalanche have already made a significant impact in the NHL. The team has won three Stanley Cup championships, with the latest victory coming in 2022.

The best Colorado Avalanche players have played a crucial role in these victories, contributing their skills and talent to help the team achieve success. And if injuries don’t keep them aside, they might compete for the trophy once again.

If you enjoy betting on sports in Colorado, you should back up the Avalanche to win here.

Best Avalanche Players of All Time

As we look back on the history of the franchise, there are certain players who stand out as being among the best of the best. These players have not only left their mark on the Avalanche but on the NHL as a whole.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into our list of the five best Avalanche players of all time.

1.) Joe Sakic, C (1987-2009)

When it comes to the best Avalanche players of all time, one name that immediately comes to mind is Joe Sakic. “Burnaby Joe” achieved a rare feat during his time with the franchise in that he never played a single game with another team. Even names like Gretzky, Messier, and Howe played elsewhere in their careers.

Sakic, a quiet leader on and off the ice, was draft by Quebec 15th overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. He would be named captain prior to the 1992-93 season and hold that title for 16 seasons. It would make him one of the longest-serving captains in the history of the NHL.

As impressive as his longevity was, Sakic was every bit the star on the ice. His 1,378 career regular season games are impressive enough. But when you factor in his 625 goals and 1,016 assists for 1,641 career points, you realize that Sakic was not only one of the Colorado Avalanche best players but also one of the greats in the NHL history.

Sakic also has the hardware to back up his claim as one of the greatest in Avs history. He was captain for the first two championships in team history in 1996 and 2001. During the 1996 run, he tied the record for the most goals in a single playoff season with 18, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP.

If that weren’t enough, Sakic added the individual awards to his resume. He would have a historic season in 2001, winning the Hart Trophy (MVP), Lester B. Pearson Award (MVP as voted by the players), and Lady Byng Trophy all in the same year. Sakic holds every meaningful record in franchise history and will likely remain at the top for decades to come. The ultimate leader, Sakic is the Colorado Avalanche.

Most goals in a player's first 66 games of a season – @Avalanche franchise history:
54- Michel Goulet (1983-84)
54- Goulet (1984-85)
48- Goulet(1985-86)
47- Goulet (1985-86)
45- Joe Sakic (1992-93)
44- Mikko Rantanen (2022-23 via potting 1 for COL in tonight's 2-1 SO win vs TOR) pic.twitter.com/TzyFiyEQon

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) March 16, 2023

2.) Patrick Roy, G (1996-2004)

You can’t talk about the greatest players in history, let alone just the best Colorado Avalanche players of all time, without mentioning St. Patrick. Everything about Roy’s time in Denver is noteworthy, including how he came to the franchise in the first place.

Just four games into the 1995-96 season, the first year for the Avalanche in Denver, Roy, and the Montreal Canadiens came to a head. Head coach Mario Tremblay left Roy in to get shelled by the Detroit Red Wings, allowing nine goals. Roy told Tremblay as he left the ice that he would never play for Montreal again and he did not. He was traded to Colorado just days later in a lopsided deal.

Roy would prove to be every bit the addition that Colorado hoped for. During his first season in Colorado, Roy would be a key component to the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup in their first season.

His time in Colorado would be no less special after that. He would suit up for the Avalanche over the next 8 years, playing 478 games and winning 262 of them. In the playoffs, he would win 81 games for Colorado, including capturing the Conn Smythe during the team’s second Cup run in 2001.

Roy left Colorado as the winningest goaltender of all-time and his trademark cockiness is something that will live in the memory of fans for a lifetime, making him one of the best Avalanche players ever.

#WaybackWednesday 21 years ago today ON THIS DAY in hockey history (March 22, 2002):

Patrick Roy becomes the 1st goaltender in NHL history to win 30+ games in 13 different NHL seasons as his @Avalanche beat the Blackhawks 8-1 pic.twitter.com/j9fJgbjXRR

— Vintage Hockey Showcase (@hockey_vintage) March 22, 2023

3.) Peter Forsberg, C (1994-2004)

During the 1990s and early 2000s, you would be hard-pressed to find a better all-around player than Forsberg. Nicknamed “Foppa” and “Peter the Great,” Forsberg was one of the most dominant centers of his era for a multitude of reasons, earning him third place in our list of Colorado Avalanche best players.

His time on the ice for Colorado came with trademark ferocity. Set on proving that European players could be hard-nosed, Forsberg sought to dish out as much punishment as he took. Combined with world-class ability, Forsberg became a dominant two-way player like few others.

He is also famous because of how he came to be with the franchise. Originally taken 6th overall in 1991 by the Philadelphia Flyers, he was the focal point of a blockbuster deal for prized prospect Eric Lindros. Forsberg and a litany of other players and picks (not to mention $15 million USD) went to Quebec with Lindros going the other way.

Forsberg’s list of accolades during his time in Colorado speak for themselves. In 591 games with Quebec/Colorado, Forsberg totaled 217 goals and 538 assists for 755 points. He won the Hart and Art Ross trophies in 2003 as MVP and scoring leader, respectively. His rookie season in 1995 landed him the Calder Trophy and an NHL All-Rookie Team nod.

Forsberg will perhaps be best known for his ferocity in the playoffs. He was not only a regular season force, but perhaps one of the best playoff performers of his generation. In 140 postseason games with the franchise, he posted 58 goals and 159 points. Perhaps most impressively is the 2002 playoffs. After missing the entirety of the 2001-02 regular season, Forsberg returned to the ice to lead the playoffs in scoring with 27 points in 20 games. Even more impressive is the fact that the Avalanche fell short of the Stanley Cup Final, losing to Detroit in the Western Conference Final.

Avalanche faithful will forever remember the icy glare and aggressiveness with which could only be matched by his ability. Forsberg will likely remain a name on the list of the best Colorado Avalanche players for a long time to come.

To distract from what’s on the ice:

Peter Forsberg everybody! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/hsmpaw3xVk

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 1, 2022

4.) Milan Hejduk, RW (1998-2013)

Though he does not have the name value that the top three do, you can’t talk about the best Colorado Avalanche players of all time without mentioning Hejduk. Taken 87th overall in 1994, no one could have anticipated the impact that Hejduk would have on the franchise.

Hejduk would become a staple for the Avalanche beginning with the 1998-99 season where he made an impact with 48 points in 82 games. He would stay with the franchise for a total of 14 season, collecting a whopping 1,020 games all with the Avalanche.

But longevity is not the only thing worth noting about Hejduk. In the early-mid 2000s, he and linemate Forsberg would be a dominant duo. In fact, Hejduk would win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the league’s top goalscorer, netting 50 during the 2002-03 season.

When the stars began to leave – Forsberg for free agency, Roy to retirement, Adam Foote to free agency – Hejduk was a constant. In the face of declining success, Hejduk became one of the faces of the franchise alongside Sakic.

His career numbers are also vasty underrated. In those 1,020 games, Hejduk would net 375 goals and 805 points. He was one of the key pieces that the Avalanche needed to win a second Stanley Cup in 2001, operating effectively behind the two-headed monster of Sakic and Forsberg.

There are a few members of the Avalanche currently who will threaten this list in the near future, such as Denis Malgin. For now, Hejduk has more than earned his place as one of the best Avalanche players of all time.

Quality over quantity.

Milan Hedjuk scored 50 goals on just 244 shots with the @Avalanche to capture the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. #AskNHL #NHLStats https://t.co/XGNNQbTcJS pic.twitter.com/IsknYO9qIC

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 2, 2020

5.) Nathan MacKinnon, C (2013-current)

When the Avalanche picked MacKinnon first overall in 2013, they hoped for a change of direction in the franchise. They have not only gotten that, but a name that will no doubt go down as one of the greatest to ever do it while playing in Colorado.

Though it took him a few years to finally realize his potential, MacKinnon has become a force to be reckoned with. From 2017-18 to 2019-20, he ripped off three straight seasons of 90+ points. He is currently among the league leaders in points and figures to be there many more times in the future.

MacKinnon also played a crucial role in bringing the Avalanche back to the mountain top in 2022. His 13 goals led the playoffs, helping the Avalanche to their first Stanley Cup title in 21 years. Given the youth of MacKinnon and his compatriots, one has to wonder if one will be it for this talented core.

MacKinnon already has nearly 250 goals and 650 points during his time in Denver. At just 27 years of age, he is going to be around for a long time. More importantly, he is going to do a lot of damage to the league and may very well help the Avalanche add to their Stanley Cup banners.

MacKinnon is the face of the franchise in Denver and looks to do what Sakic did during his long tenure in Colorado. He’s off to a good start with a lot of career left to go. Will he go down in history as one of the best Avalanche players ever? He is definitely making the case for it.