The 2015–16 Colorado Avalanche season was the 21st operational season and 20th playing season since the franchise relocated from Quebec prior to the start of the 1995–96 NHL season. As well as the franchise's 37th season in the National Hockey League and 44th season overall. The Avalanche celebrated their 20th anniversary this season.

The Avalanche were unable to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season Preseason game log: 1–4–1 (Home: 1–1–1; Road: 0–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 22 Anaheim 4–5 Colorado OT Will –– 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 24 Calgary 1–0 Colorado Berra –– 1–1–0 Recap 3 September 27 Los Angeles 2–1 Colorado SO Varlamov –– 1–1–1 Recap 4 September 29 Colorado 0–2 Calgary Pickard 18,806 1–2–1 Recap 5 October 1 Colorado 0–3 Anaheim Varlamov 13,756 1–3–1 Recap 6 October 3 Colorado 0–4 Los Angeles Berra –– 1–4–1 RecapNotes: Game will be played at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.

Regular season Game log October: 3–6–1 (Home: 1–3–1; Road: 2–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 8 Minnesota 5–4 Colorado Varlamov 18,007 0–1–0 0 Recap 2 October 10 Dallas 3–6 Colorado Varlamov 16,024 1–1–0 2 Recap 3 October 14 Boston 6–2 Colorado Varlamov 15,082 1–2–0 2 Recap 4 October 16 Colorado 3–0 Anaheim Berra 17,174 2–2–0 4 Recap 5 October 18 Colorado 1–2 Los Angeles Berra 18,230 2–3–0 4 Recap 6 October 21 Carolina 1–0 Colorado OT Varlamov 12,826 2–3–1 5 Recap 7 October 24 Columbus 4–3 Colorado Varlamov 18,007 2–4–1 5 Recap 8 October 27 Colorado 1–4 Florida Berra 11,694 2–5–1 5 Recap 9 October 29 Colorado 2–1 Tampa Bay Varlamov 19,092 3–5–1 7 Recap 10 October 30 Colorado 2–3 Carolina Varlamov 9,345 3–6–1 7 Recap November: 6–8–0 (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 4–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 11 November 1 San Jose 4–3 Colorado Varlamov 17,128 3–7–1 7 Recap 12 November 3 Calgary 3–6 Colorado Varlamov 14,408 4–7–1 9 Recap 13 November 5 Colorado 2–4 Arizona Varlamov 10,270 4–8–1 9 Recap 14 November 6 NY Rangers 2–1 Colorado Berra 17,818 4–9–1 9 Recap 15 November 10 Colorado 4–0 Philadelphia Berra 18,587 5–9–1 11 Recap 16 November 12 Colorado 3–2 Boston Berra 17,565 6–9–1 13 Recap 17 November 14 Colorado 6–1 Montreal Berra 21,288 7–9–1 15 Recap 18 November 17 Colorado 1–5 Toronto Berra 19,238 7–10–1 15 Recap 19 November 19 Colorado 3–4 Pittsburgh Berra 18,430 7–11–1 15 Recap 20 November 21 Colorado 3–7 Washington Berra 18,506 7–12–1 15 Recap 21 November 23 Colorado 4–1 Winnipeg Varlamov 15,294 8–12–1 17 Recap 22 November 25 Ottawa 5–3 Colorado Berra 16,570 8–13–1 17 Recap 23 November 28 Winnipeg 3–5 Colorado Varlamov 16,311 9–13–1 19 Recap 24 November 30 Colorado 3–5 NY Islanders Varlamov 11,585 9–14–1 19 Recap December: 9–3–2 (Home: 3–2–2; Road: 6–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 1 Colorado 2–1 New Jersey Berra 14,019 10–14–1 21 Recap 26 December 3 Colorado 2–1 NY Rangers Varlamov 18,006 11–14–1 23 Recap 27 December 5 Colorado 0–3 Minnesota Varlamov 19,173 11–15–1 23 Recap 28 December 7 Minnesota 1–2 Colorado OT Varlamov 16,589 12–15–1 25 Recap 29 December 9 Pittsburgh 4–2 Colorado Berra 15,838 12–16–1 25 Recap 30 December 12 Colorado 3–2 Nashville Varlamov 17,113 13–16–1 27 Recap 31 December 13 Colorado 3–1 St. Louis Varlamov 17,961 14–16–1 29 Recap 32 December 15 Colorado 3–0 Chicago Varlamov 21,473 15–16–1 31 Recap 33 December 17 NY Islanders 1–2 Colorado Varlamov 15,811 16–16–1 33 Recap 34 December 19 Edmonton 1–5 Colorado Varlamov 17,570 17–16–1 35 Recap 35 December 21 Toronto 7–4 Colorado Varlamov 16,084 17–17–1 35 Recap 36 December 27 Arizona 2–1 Colorado OT Varlamov 18,064 17–17–2 36 Recap 37 December 28 Colorado 6–3 San Jose Pickard 17,562 18–17–2 38 Recap 38 December 31 Chicago 4–3 Colorado OT Varlamov 18,048 18–17–3 39 Recap January: 9–5–0 (Home: 6–2–0; Road: 3–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 Calgary 4–0 Colorado Varlamov 18,087 18–18–3 39 Recap 40 January 4 Los Angeles 1–4 Colorado Varlamov 15,202 19–18–3 41 Recap 41 January 6 St. Louis 3–4 Colorado OT Varlamov 13,359 20–18–3 43 Recap 42 January 8 Nashville 3–5 Colorado Varlamov 17,680 21–18–3 45 Recap 43 January 10 Colorado 3–6 Chicago Varlamov 22,007 21–19–3 45 Recap 44 January 12 Tampa Bay 4–0 Colorado Varlamov 14,227 21–20–3 45 Recap 45 January 14 New Jersey 0–3 Colorado Pickard 15,636 22–20–3 47 Recap 46 January 16 Colorado 1–2 Columbus Pickard 17,776 22–21–3 47 Recap 47 January 18 Colorado 2–1 Winnipeg Varlamov 15,294 23–21–3 49 Recap 48 January 20 Buffalo 1–2 Colorado Varlamov 13,274 24–21–3 51 Recap 49 January 22 St. Louis 1–2 Colorado SO Varlamov 16,366 25–21–3 53 Recap 50 January 23 Colorado 3–1 Dallas Varlamov 18,532 26–21–3 55 Recap 51 January 26 Colorado 1–6 San Jose Pickard 17,424 26–22–3 55 Recap 52 January 27 Colorado 4–3 Los Angeles Pickard 18,230 27–22–3 57 Recap February: 5–6–1 (Home: 2–4–1; Road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 53 February 2 Chicago 2–1 Colorado Pickard 18,007 27–23–3 57 Recap 54 February 4 Dallas 4–3 Colorado OT Pickard 14,351 27–23–4 58 Recap 55 February 6 Winnipeg 4–2 Colorado Varlamov 14,983 27–24–4 58 Recap 56 February 9 Vancouver 3–1 Colorado Varlamov 14,436 27–25–4 58 Recap 57 February 11 Colorado 4–3 Ottawa Varlamov 17,632 28–25–4 60 Recap 58 February 12 Colorado 3–2 Detroit SO Varlamov 20,027 29–25–4 62 Recap 59 February 14 Colorado 1–4 Buffalo Varlamov 19,070 29–26–4 62 Recap 60 February 17 Montreal 2–3 Colorado Varlamov 16,271 30–26–4 64 Recap 61 February 20 Colorado 3–2 Edmonton Pickard 16,939 31–26–4 66 Recap 62 February 21 Colorado 1–5 Vancouver Varlamov 18,431 31–27–4 66 Recap 63 February 24 San Jose 3–4 Colorado SO Pickard 15,564 32–27–4 68 Recap 64 February 27(outdoor game) Detroit 5–3 Colorado Varlamov 50,095(at Coors Field) 32–28–4 68 Recap March: 7–6–0 (Home: 3–3–0; Road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 1 Colorado 3–6 Minnesota Pickard 19,107 32–29–4 68 Recap 66 March 3 Florida 2–3 Colorado Pickard 16,194 33–29–4 70 Recap 67 March 5 Nashville 5–2 Colorado Pickard 17,165 33–30–4 70 Recap 68 March 7 Arizona 1–3 Colorado Varlamov 15,393 34–30–4 72 Recap 69 March 9 Anaheim 0–3 Colorado Varlamov 14,292 35–30–4 74 Recap 70 March 12 Colorado 2–3 Winnipeg Varlamov 15,294 35–31–4 74 Recap 71 March 16 Colorado 3–1 Vancouver Varlamov 18,426 36–31–4 76 Recap 72 March 18 Colorado 4–3 Calgary SO Varlamov 19,289 37–31–4 78 Recap 73 March 20 Colorado 3–2 Edmonton Pickard 16,839 38–31–4 80 Recap 74 March 24 Philadelphia 4–2 Colorado Varlamov 18,087 38–32–4 80 Recap 75 March 26 Minnesota 4–0 Colorado Varlamov 18,007 38–33–4 80 Recap 76 March 28 Colorado 4–3 Nashville Varlamov 16,443 39–33–4 82 Recap 77 March 29 Colorado 1–3 St. Louis Varlamov 19,263 39–34–4 82 Recap April: 0–5–0 (Home: 0–3–0; Road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 1 Washington 4–2 Colorado Varlamov 18,049 39–35–4 82 Recap 79 April 3 St. Louis 5–1 Colorado Varlamov 15,485 39–36–4 82 Recap 80 April 5 Colorado 3–4 Nashville Varlamov 17,113 39–37–4 82 Recap 81 April 7 Colorado 2–4 Dallas Pickard 18,532 39–38–4 82 Recap 82 April 9 Anaheim 5–3 Colorado Varlamov 17,932 39–39–4 82 RecapLegend:

Player statistics Final stats

Skaters

Regular season Player 76 30 29 59 −8 24 75 20 33 53 −5 69 72 21 31 52 −4 20 82 12 39 51 −7 32 78 13 36 49 −16 31 82 22 25 47 −22 41 81 12 24 36 −9 58 82 8 26 34 −7 38 73 11 16 27 −19 50 74 6 21 27 +2 8 82 6 16 22 −1 24 ‡ 52 4 18 22 +3 24 71 10 11 21 −7 52 74 8 6 14 −4 11 82 8 5 13 +1 138 † 18 4 8 12 −5 2 † 20 6 5 11 −7 8 55 4 7 11 −4 47 37 2 4 6 +5 10 †‡ 26 4 0 4 −2 9 31 1 2 3 −2 16 † 21 0 2 2 −1 6 9 0 2 2 −1 0 22 0 2 2 −5 12 26 0 1 1 −3 8 6 0 0 0 −2 0 29 0 0 0 +2 2 † 6 0 0 0 +2 0 7 0 0 0 −1 4 15 0 0 0 −5 0 3 0 0 0 −2 0 9 0 0 0 −7 2

Goaltenders Regular season Player 57 57 3159 27 25 3 148 2.81 1714 .914 2 0 0 6 20 13 985 7 6 1 42 2.56 539 .922 1 0 1 0 14 12 721 5 8 0 29 2.41 374 .922 2 0 1 2 1 0 18 0 0 0 1 3.33 3 .667 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Avalanche. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only. ‡Traded mid-season Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Suspensions/fines Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued Tyson Barrie Charging and interference against Anaheim Ducks defenseman Simon Despres during NHL Game No. 63 in Anaheim on Friday, October 16, 2015, at 11:30 of the second period. 3 games $41,935.47 October 17, 2015 Gabriel Landeskog Illegal check to the head of Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand during NHL Game No. 230 in Boston on Thursday, November 12, 2015, at 5:46 of the second period. 2 games $59,907.84 November 13, 2015 Gabriel Landeskog Cross–check against Anaheim Ducks defenseman Simon Despres during NHL Game No. 1004 in Colorado on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at 11:29 of the third period. 3 games $203,832.75 March 10, 2016

Notable achievements

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL First Star of the Week November 16, 2015 NHL Third Star of the Month December 1, 2015 NHL First Star of the Week December 21, 2015 NHL All-Star game selection January 6, 2016 NHL Third Star of the Week January 11, 2016 NHL First Star of the Week January 25, 2016

Milestones

Regular season Player Milestone Reached 1st career NHL game October 8, 2015 1,400th career NHL game October 27, 2015 200th career NHL point October 27, 2015 100th career NHL point November 1, 2015 1st career NHL game November 10, 2015 200th career NHL point November 12, 2015 200th career NHL game November 14, 2015 A. Martinsen 1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point November 14, 2015 500th career NHL game200th career NHL point November 14, 2015 A. Martinsen 1st career NHL goal November 21, 2015 200th career NHL assist November 21, 2015 G. Landeskog 300th career NHL game November 23, 2015 1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point November 25, 2015 700th career NHL game December 5, 2015 100th career NHL game December 27, 2015 200th career NHL game December 31, 2015 C. Soderberg 200th career NHL game January 2, 2016 J. Iginla 600th career NHL goal January 4, 2016 1st career NHL game January 14, 2016 1st career NHL shutout January 14, 2016 C. Bigras 1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point January 16, 2016 100th career NHL game January 18, 2016 300th career NHL game January 20, 2016 T. Barrie 100th career NHL assist January 22, 2015 600th career NHL game January 26, 2016 1st career NHL game January 26, 2016 E. Johnson 500th career NHL game February 2, 2016 200th career NHL game February 4, 2016 200th career NHL game February 20, 2016 C. Bigras 1st career NHL goal March 1, 2016 100th career NHL assist March 1, 2016 300th career NHL game March 3, 2016 C. Soderberg 100th career NHL assist March 20, 2016 B. Comeau 100th career NHL goal March 28, 2016 G. Landeskog 100th career NHL goal April 1, 2016

Transactions The Colorado Avalanche were involved in the following transactions during the 2015–16 NHL season.

Trades DateRef To Buffalo Sabres

Ryan O'ReillyJamie McGinn To Colorado Avalanche

Nikita ZadorovMikhail GrigorenkoJ. T. Compher2nd-round pick in 2015 To San Jose Sharks

BUF's 2nd-round pick in 2015 To Colorado Avalanche

2nd-round pick in 2015COL's 2nd-round pick in 2016COL's 6th-round pick in 2017 To Arizona Coyotes

Stefan Elliott To Colorado Avalanche

Brandon Gormley To Calgary Flames

Freddie Hamilton To Colorado Avalanche

Conditional 7th-round pick in 2016 To Toronto Maple Leafs

Colin Smith4th-round pick in 2016 To Colorado Avalanche

Shawn Matthias To Arizona Coyotes

Alex TanguayConner BleackleyKyle Wood To Colorado Avalanche

Mikkel Boedker To New Jersey Devils

3rd-round pick in 2017 To Colorado Avalanche

Eric Gelinas To New York Islanders

Marc-Andre Cliche To Colorado Avalanche