ROSTER RUNDOWN
Making the cut
Calum Ritchie is a 19-year-old top prospect for the Avalanche coming off a big season in the Ontario Hockey League. The forward, who was the No. 27 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, had 80 points (28 goals, 52 assists) in 50 games with Oshawa. He had another 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists) in 21 OHL playoff games. Ritchie has to impress in training camp and prove he is ready for the NHL level, but he has a chance to make the final roster largely because there is uncertainty about Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen being ready to start the season. Lehkonen had offseason shoulder surgery and is questionable to be available when the season starts. Ritchie could get essentially a nine-game tryout to bide time for Lehkonen and/or Landeskog before the Avalanche have to decide if returning to junior hockey is best for his development or if he's capable of being a full-time NHL player. He is not eligible to play in the American Hockey League because he is a Canadian junior hockey player under the age of 20.
Most intriguing addition
Erik Brannstrom is still young enough (25) to think his best years might be in front of him. The defenseman signed a one-year contract with the Avalanche on July 2. He's expected to be part of the third pair, but he can skate and be productive if surrounded by some elite players. The Avalanche have those. Brannstrom had 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) in 76 games with the Ottawa Senators last season.
Biggest potential surprise
The expectation is Landeskog will return soon after the start of the season, but there's no certainty about what he will be able to deliver after missing the past two seasons because of a knee injury and multiple surgeries. Landeskog has to work his way back into playing a regular shift in the NHL and that's no small or easy task. It's obviously way different from rehabbing, which he has been doing for months. But if his track record is an indication, Landeskog could be a major contributor on the ice as well as in the dressing room by the second half of the season. The Avalanche might be expecting that to happen now, but how much he does produce could be a surprise to some around the League considering how much time he missed.
Ready to contribute
Nikolai Kovalenko is a player to watch in training camp. The 24-year-old came to Colorado from the Kontinental Hockey League late last season. He had three points (one goal, two assists) in four games with Colorado of the American Hockey League and made his NHL debut in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round against the Winnipeg Jets. He averaged 6:48 of ice time in two games and did not score. The Avalanche have an opening with Valeri Nichushkin suspended until at least November and the possibility that Lehkonen won't be ready in time because of offseason shoulder surgery. Kovalenko's time could be now.
Fantasy sleeper
Casey Mittelstadt, F (undrafted on average in fantasy) -- The Avalanche's No. 2 center had 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 29 combined regular-season and Stanley Cup Playoff games after being acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on March 6. Even without Nichushkin, Mittelstadt will bring exposure to either Lehkonen or Jonathan Drouin at even strength and could see occasional power-play time on the first unit for an offense that features elite skaters MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar. -- Pete Jensen