The 2016–17 Colorado Avalanche season was the 22nd operational season and 21st playing season for the Colorado Avalanche since the franchise relocated from Quebec prior to the start of the 1995–96 NHL season, as well as the franchise's 38th season in the National Hockey League and 45th season overall.

Under first-year head coach Jared Bednar, the Avalanche got off to a respectable start, and were only two games below .500 by December 1. However, they won a total of four games in December and January combined. By the All-Star Break, they were 13-31-2, and their season was all but finished. They won only nine more games after that to finish 22-56-4, the worst record in the NHL. They missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year, 46 points behind the lowest playoff seed and 21 points behind the 29th-place Vancouver Canucks. It was the franchise's lowest points total since 1990–91 as the Nordiques, which was the last time the franchise finished in last place overall. The Avalanche's 48 points were among the fewest for a non-expansion team since 1967, and the second fewest for any team playing an 82-game season where one point is earned for losing in overtime or a shootout, ahead of only the 2023–24 San Jose Sharks (who finished with 47 points). The team was shutout a franchise record-tying 12 times (set during the 2008-09 season). Despite their historically poor season, as of the 2025–26 NHL season, this is the most recent time the Avalanche have missed the playoffs.

Off-season On August 11, 2016, less than a month before training camp, Patrick Roy resigned as head coach, claiming he had little input in personnel matters despite having the additional title of vice president of hockey operations. On August 25, the Avalanche hired Jared Bednar of the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters as Roy's replacement. He had led the Monsters to winning the AHL championship in the previous season. The unusually late hire left Bednar with little time to get to know the players, and no time at all to install his own system. With nowhere near enough time to assemble his own staff, he was forced to retain Roy's assistants.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season Pre-season Game Log: 6–0–0 (Home: 3–0–0; Road: 3–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 27 Colorado 4–1 Minnesota Smith 16,920 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 28 Dallas 2–4 Colorado Simpson — 2–0–0 Recap 3 September 30 Los Angeles 1–3 Colorado Varlamov — 3–0–0 Recap 4 October 4 Minnesota 0–2 Colorado Varlamov — 4–0–0 Recap 5 October 5 Colorado 1–0 Dallas Pickard 14,120 5–0–0 Recap 6 October 8 Colorado 2–1 Los Angeles OT — — 6–0–0 RecapNotes: Game played at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.

Regular season Game Log October: 4–3–0 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 15 Dallas 5–6 Colorado Varlamov 18,007 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 17 Colorado 4–3 Pittsburgh OT Pickard 18,431 2–0–0 4 Recap 3 October 18 Colorado 0–3 Washington Varlamov 18,506 2–1–0 4 Recap 4 October 20 Colorado 4–0 Tampa Bay Varlamov 19,092 3–1–0 6 Recap 5 October 22 Colorado 2–5 Florida Varlamov 14,326 3–2–0 6 Recap 6 October 28 Winnipeg 1–0 Colorado Varlamov 16,135 3–3–0 6 Recap 7 October 29 Colorado 3–2 Arizona Pickard 13,533 4–3–0 8 Recap November: 5–8–1 (Home: 3–5–1; Road: 2–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 8 November 1 Nashville 5–1 Colorado Varlamov 12,142 4–4–0 8 Recap 9 November 3 Colorado 0–4 Chicago Varlamov 21,580 4–5–0 8 Recap 10 November 5 Minnesota 0–1 Colorado Pickard 16,256 5–5–0 10 Recap 11 November 6 Colorado 1–5 St. Louis Varlamov 17,220 5–6–0 10 Recap 12 November 8 Arizona 4–2 Colorado Pickard 13,858 5–7–0 10 Recap 13 November 11 Winnipeg 2–3 Colorado OT Varlamov 16,517 6–7–0 12 Recap 14 November 13 Boston 2–0 Colorado Varlamov 15,808 6–8–0 12 Recap 15 November 15 Los Angeles 1–4 Colorado Varlamov 14,805 7–8–0 14 Recap 16 November 17 Colorado 2–3 Dallas Varlamov 18,237 7–9–0 14 Recap 17 November 19 Colorado 3–2 Minnesota Pickard 19,238 8–9–0 16 Recap 18 November 21 Colorado 3–2 Columbus OT Varlamov 10,063 9–9–0 18 Recap 19 November 23 Edmonton 6–3 Colorado Varlamov 15,185 9–10–0 18 Recap 20 November 26 Vancouver 3–2 Colorado SO Pickard 15,511 9–10–1 19 Recap 21 November 29 Nashville 5–3 Colorado Pickard 12,082 9–11–1 19 Recap December: 3–12–0 (Home: 0–7–0; Road: 3–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 22 December 1 Columbus 3–2 Colorado Varlamov 12,141 9–12–1 19 Recap 23 December 3 Dallas 3–0 Colorado Varlamov 16,725 9–13–1 19 Recap 24 December 6 Colorado 3–4 Nashville Varlamov 17,113 9–14–1 19 Recap 25 December 8 Colorado 4–2 Boston Pickard 17,565 10–14–1 21 Recap 26 December 10 Colorado 1–10 Montreal Pickard 21,288 10–15–1 21 Recap 27 December 11 Colorado 3–1 Toronto Varlamov 18,875 11–15–1 23 Recap 28 December 14 Philadelphia 4–3 Colorado Pickard 14,456 11–16–1 23 Recap 29 December 16 Florida 3–1 Colorado Pickard 14,679 11–17–1 23 Recap 30 December 18 Colorado 1–4 Winnipeg Pickard 15,294 11–18–1 23 Recap 31 December 20 Colorado 0–2 Minnesota Varlamov 19,018 11–19–1 23 Recap 32 December 22 Toronto 6–0 Colorado Varlamov 15,502 11–20–1 23 Recap 33 December 23 Colorado 2–1 Chicago OT Pickard 21,918 12–20–1 25 Recap 34 December 27 Calgary 6–3 Colorado Pickard 14,634 12–21–1 25 Recap 35 December 29 Colorado 2–4 Dallas Pickard 18,532 12–22–1 25 Recap 36 December 31 NY Rangers 6–2 Colorado Pickard 17,609 12–23–1 25 Recap January: 1–9–1 (Home: 1–5–0; Road: 0–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 37 January 2 Colorado 2–3 Vancouver Pickard 18,865 12–24–1 25 Recap 38 January 4 Colorado 1–4 Calgary Pickard 18,388 12–25–1 25 Recap 39 January 6 NY Islanders 1–2 Colorado OT Pickard 14,788 13–25–1 27 Recap 40 January 12 Anaheim 4–1 Colorado Varlamov 14,589 13–26–1 27 Recap 41 January 14 Nashville 3–2 Colorado Varlamov 16,096 13–27–1 27 Recap 42 January 17 Chicago 6–4 Colorado Varlamov 18,007 13–28–1 27 Recap 43 January 19 Colorado 1–2 Anaheim Pickard 15,414 13–29–1 27 Recap 44 January 21 Colorado 2–3 San Jose OT Martin 17,562 13–29–2 28 Recap 45 January 23 San Jose 5–2 Colorado Martin 13,803 13–30–2 28 Recap 46 January 25 Vancouver 3–2 Colorado Pickard 12,819 13–31–2 28 Recap January 27–29 All-Star Break in Los Angeles 47 January 31 Colorado 1–5 Anaheim Pickard 15,963 13–32–2 28 Recap February: 4–9–1 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 1–7–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 48 February 1 Colorado 0–5 Los Angeles Martin 18,230 13–33–2 28 Recap 49 February 4 Winnipeg 2–5 Colorado Pickard 13,930 14–33–2 30 Recap 50 February 7 Montreal 0–4 Colorado Pickard 12,667 15–33–2 32 Recap 51 February 9 Pittsburgh 4–1 Colorado Pickard 16,777 15–34–2 32 Recap 52 February 11 Colorado 2–4 NY Rangers Pickard 18,006 15–35–2 32 Recap 53 February 12 Colorado 1–5 NY Islanders Pickard 14,107 15–36–2 32 Recap 54 February 14 Colorado 2–3 New Jersey Smith 12,462 15–37–2 32 Recap 55 February 16 Colorado 0–2 Buffalo Pickard 18,335 15–38–2 32 Recap 56 February 17 Colorado 2–1 Carolina OT Pickard 11,456 16–38–2 34 Recap 57 February 19 Tampa Bay 3–2 Colorado OT Pickard 17,270 16–38–3 35 Recap 58 February 21 Los Angeles 2–1 Colorado Pickard 13,768 16–39–3 35 Recap 59 February 23 Colorado 2–4 Nashville Smith 17,243 16–40–3 35 Recap 60 February 25 Buffalo 3–5 Colorado Smith 15,362 17–40–3 37 Recap 61 February 28 Colorado 0–4 Philadelphia Smith 19,564 17–41–3 37 Recap March: 4–12–0 (Home: 4–5–0; Road: 0–7–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 62 March 2 Colorado 1–2 Ottawa Pickard 16,932 17–42–3 37 Recap 63 March 4 Colorado 1–6 Winnipeg Pickard 15,294 17–43–3 37 Recap 64 March 5 St. Louis 3–0 Colorado Smith 14,477 17–44–3 37 Recap 65 March 7 Carolina 1–3 Colorado Pickard 11,700 18–44–3 39 Recap 66 March 9 New Jersey 2–3 Colorado Pickard 11,886 19–44–3 41 Recap 67 March 11 Ottawa 4–2 Colorado Pickard 15,317 19–45–3 41 Recap 68 March 13 Colorado 0–1 Arizona Pickard 11,521 19–46–3 41 Recap 69 March 15 Detroit 1–3 Colorado Pickard 16,764 20–46–3 43 Recap 70 March 18 Colorado 1–5 Detroit Pickard 20,027 20–47–3 43 Recap 71 March 19 Colorado 3–6 Chicago Smith 22,070 20–48–3 43 Recap 72 March 21 St. Louis 4–2 Colorado Pickard 11,687 20–49–3 43 Recap 73 March 23 Edmonton 7–4 Colorado Smith 14,142 20–50–3 43 Recap 74 March 25 Colorado 1–4 Edmonton Pickard 18,347 20–51–3 43 Recap 75 March 27 Colorado 2–4 Calgary Pickard 17,785 20–52–3 43 Recap 76 March 29 Washington 5–3 Colorado Pickard 13,820 20–53–3 43 Recap 77 March 31 St. Louis 1–2 Colorado SO Pickard 14,763 21–53–3 45 Recap April: 1–3–1 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 0–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 2 Colorado 2–5 Minnesota Pickard 19,164 21–54–3 45 Recap 79 April 4 Chicago 3–4 Colorado OT Pickard 16,203 22–54–3 47 Recap 80 April 6 Minnesota 4–3 Colorado Pickard 15,565 22–55–3 47 Recap 81 April 8 Colorado 3–4 Dallas SO Smith 18,532 22–55–4 48 Recap 82 April 9 Colorado 2–3 St. Louis Pickard 18,971 22–56–4 48 RecapLegend:

Player stats

Skaters

Regular season Player 82 16 37 53 −14 16 77 18 23 41 −34 12 75 20 18 38 −25 22 74 7 31 38 −34 18 72 18 15 33 −25 62 75 10 13 23 −14 18 77 8 12 20 −19 58 65 12 6 18 −19 56 ‡ 61 8 10 18 −21 54 81 5 13 18 −14 32 46 2 15 17 −6 9 † 19 5 11 16 0 8 80 6 8 14 −26 22 69 1 12 13 −25 38 57 4 8 12 −18 23 † 43 7 4 11 −9 4 56 0 10 10 −20 73 † 34 2 7 9 −6 4 62 4 4 8 −21 34 ‡ 55 3 4 7 −10 32 65 3 4 7 −12 45 21 3 2 5 0 4 33 0 5 5 −10 25 1 1 0 1 +1 2 6 1 0 1 −5 0 ‡ 28 1 0 1 −2 52 4 0 1 1 −3 2 5 0 1 1 −2 4 27 0 1 1 −4 12 12 0 0 0 −8 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 ‡ 4 0 0 0 −2 0 3 0 0 0 −2 2

Goaltenders Regular season Player 50 48 2820:16 15 31 2 140 2.98 1461 .904 2 0 2 0 24 23 1347:47 6 17 0 76 3.38 745 .898 1 0 0 0 10 8 542:43 1 6 1 32 3.54 286 .888 0 0 0 0 3 3 179:26 0 2 1 13 4.35 96 .865 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

Transactions The Colorado Avalanche were involved in the following transactions during the 2016–17 NHL season.

Trades DateRef To New York Rangers

Nick Holden To Colorado Avalanche

4th-round pick in 2017 To Columbus Blue Jackets

Ryan Stanton To Colorado Avalanche

Cody Goloubef To Nashville Predators

Cody McLeod To Colorado Avalanche

Felix Girard To Los Angeles Kings

Jarome Iginla To Colorado Avalanche

conditional 4th-round pick in 2018 To Montreal Canadiens

Andreas Martinsen To Colorado Avalanche

Sven Andrighetto

Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Patrick Wiercioch Ottawa Senators 1 year, $800,000 Joe Colborne Calgary Flames 2 years, $5 million Fedor Tyutin Columbus Blue Jackets 1 year, $2 million Turner Elson Stockton Heat 1 year, $575,000 Jim O'Brien Albany Devils 1 year, $600,000 Reid Petryk San Antonio Rampage 1 year Mike Sislo New Jersey Devils 1 year, $600,000 Jeremy Smith Providence Bruins 1 year Ryan Stanton Hershey Bears 1 year, $600,000 Trent Vogelhuber Lake Erie Monsters 2 years, $1.225 million Joe Whitney Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1 year, $600,000 Ben Smith Toronto Maple Leafs 1 year, $675,000 Gabriel Bourque Nashville Predators 1 year, $800,000 Rene Bourque Columbus Blue Jackets 1 year, $650,000

Free agents lost Date Player New team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Nate Guenin Anaheim Ducks 1 year, $600,000 Mikkel Boedker San Jose Sharks 4 years, $16 million Borna Rendulic Vancouver Canucks 1 year, $575,000 Andrew Bodnarchuk Dallas Stars 2 years, $1.45 million Shawn Matthias Winnipeg Jets 2 years, $4.25 million Zach Redmond Montreal Canadiens 2 years, $1.225 million Andrew Agozzino St. Louis Blues 1 year, $600,000 Brandon Gormley New Jersey Devils 1 year, $650,000 Jack Skille Vancouver Canucks 1 year, $700,000

Claimed via waivers