Erik Johnson is among the franchise leaders in games played after 13 seasons in Colorado, but now he's in Buffalo with a new young, talented team to lead.
Colorado GM Chris MacFarland is pleased with how the Avalanche were able to retool the forward depth, but how the goalies shake out remains to be seen.
How quickly these new-look Avs can get back in the chase for the Cup, much less embrace the bold ambition to be a dynasty, will depend first and foremost on defenseman Cale Makar.
We learned last year that the Avs, cursed with the mother of all Lord Stanley Hangovers and beat up like an '86 Cutlass, were still good enough to win a division without Gabe Landeskog. Are they good enough to win a playoff seriee without him, though, if it comes to that?