The 2023–24 Colorado Avalanche season was the 45th season for the Avalanche as the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that joined the league in 1979, and their 28th playing season since the franchise relocated from Quebec City prior to the start of the 1995–96 NHL season.

On March 30, 2024, the Avalanche clinched a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season after a 7–4 win against the Nashville Predators. On April 18, Nathan MacKinnon broke the single season point record, across both the Nordiques and Avalanche, with 140 points. In the playoffs, the Avalanche defeated the Winnipeg Jets in five games in the first round, before losing to the Dallas Stars in the second round in six games.

On June 27, MacKinnon became the first Avalanche player to win the Hart Memorial Trophy since Peter Forsberg in the 2002–03 season.

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The Avalanche pre-season schedule was released on June 23, 2023. 2023 preseason game log: 2–4–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 0–3–0) # Date Away Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 24 Minnesota 4–3 Colorado Holm 14,501 0–1–0 2 September 25 Vegas 2–3 Colorado Annunen 13,294 1–1–0 3 September 28 Colorado 2–4 Minnesota Annunen 16,215 1–2–0 4 October 1 Dallas 3–4 Colorado OT Georgiev 15,207 2–2–0 5 October 3 Colorado 1–3 Dallas Annunen 14,523 2–3–0 6 October 5 Colorado 3–4 Vegas Georgiev 17,539 2–4–0 Legend:

Regular season The Avalanche regular season schedule was released on June 27, 2023. 2023–24 game logOctober: 6–2–0 (home: 2–0–0; road: 4–2–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 11 @ Los Angeles 5–2 Georgiev 18,145 1–0–0 2 2 October 14 @ San Jose 2–1 SO Georgiev 17,435 2–0–0 4 3 October 17 @ Seattle 4–1 Georgiev 17,151 3–0–0 6 4 October 19 Chicago 4–0 Georgiev 18,140 4–0–0 8 5 October 21 Carolina 6–4 Georgiev 18,131 5–0–0 10 6 October 24 @ NY Islanders 7–4 Georgiev 14,856 6–0–0 12 7 October 26 @ Pittsburgh 0–4 Georgiev 17,154 6–1–0 12 8 October 29 @ Buffalo 0–4 Georgiev 15,717 6–2–0 12 November: 9–4–1 (home: 6–2–0; road: 3–2–1) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 9 November 1 St. Louis 4–1 Prosvetov 18,091 7–2–0 14 10 November 4 @ Vegas 0–7 Georgiev 18,512 7–3–0 14 11 November 7 New Jersey 6–3 Georgiev 18,087 8–3–0 16 12 November 9 Seattle 3–4 Prosvetov 18,124 8–4–0 16 13 November 11 St. Louis 2–8 Georgiev 18,132 8–5–0 16 14 November 13 @ Seattle 5–1 Georgiev 17,151 9–5–0 18 15 November 15 Anaheim 8-2 Georgiev 18,029 10–5–0 20 16 November 18 @ Dallas 6–3 Georgiev 18,532 11–5–0 22 17 November 20 @ Nashville 3–4 Georgiev 17,159 11–6–0 22 18 November 22 Vancouver 5–2 Georgiev 18,133 12–6–0 24 19 November 24 @ Minnesota 3–2 Georgiev 19,057 13–6–0 26 20 November 25 Calgary 3–1 Prosvetov 18,139 14–6–0 28 21 November 27 Tampa Bay 4–1 Georgiev 18,009 15–6–0 30 22 November 30 @ Arizona 3–4 OT Georgiev 4,600 15–6–1 31 December: 8–5–2 (home: 7–2–0; road: 1–3–2) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 23 December 2 @ Anaheim 3–4 SO Prosvetov 14,000 15–6–2 32 24 December 3 @ Los Angeles 1–4 Georgiev 18,145 15–7–2 32 25 December 5 Anaheim 3–2 Georgiev 18,021 16–7–2 34 26 December 7 Winnipeg 2–4 Georgiev 18,008 16–8–2 34 27 December 9 Philadelphia 2–5 Prosvetov 18,119 16–9–2 34 28 December 11 Calgary 6–5 Prosvetov 17,967 17–9–2 36 29 December 13 Buffalo 5–1 Prosvetov 18,034 18–9–2 38 30 December 16 @ Winnipeg 2–6 Prosvetov 13,515 18–10–2 38 31 December 17 San Jose 6–2 Georgiev 18,093 19–10–2 40 32 December 19 @ Chicago 2–3 Georgiev 19,719 19–11–2 40 33 December 21 Ottawa 6–4 Georgiev 18,107 20–11–2 42 34 December 23 Arizona 4–1 Georgiev 18,117 21–11–2 44 35 December 27 @ Arizona 4–5 OT Georgiev 4,600 21–11–3 45 36 December 29 @ St. Louis 2–1 Georgiev 18,096 22–11–3 47 37 December 31 San Jose 3–1 Georgiev 18,140 23–11–3 49 January: 9–3–0 (home: 5–1–0; road: 4–2–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 38 January 2 NY Islanders 5–4 OT Georgiev 18,121 24–11–3 51 39 January 4 @ Dallas 5–4 OT Georgiev 18,532 25–11–3 53 40 January 6 Florida 4–8 Georgiev 18,132 25–12–3 53 41 January 8 Boston 4–3 SO Georgiev 18,050 26–12–3 55 42 January 10 Vegas 3–0 Georgiev 18,039 27–12–3 57 43 January 13 @ Toronto 5–3 Georgiev 19,298 28–12–3 59 44 January 15 @ Montreal 3–4 Georgiev 21,105 28–13–3 59 45 January 16 @ Ottawa 7–4 Annunen 16,242 29–13–3 61 46 January 18 @ Boston 2–5 Georgiev 17,850 29–14–3 61 47 January 20 @ Philadelphia 7–4 Georgiev 19,078 30–14–3 63 48 January 24 Washington 6–2 Georgiev 18,136 31–14–3 65 49 January 26 Los Angeles 5–1 Georgiev 18,131 32–14–3 67 February: 5–5–2 (home: 3–1–0; road: 2–4–2) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 February 5 @ NY Rangers 1–2 OT Georgiev 18,006 32–14–4 68 51 February 6 @ New Jersey 3–5 Annunen 16,326 32–15–4 68 52 February 8 @ Carolina 2–5 Georgiev 18,720 32–16–4 68 53 February 10 @ Florida 0–4 Georgiev 19,304 32–17–4 68 54 February 13 @ Washington 6–3 Georgiev 17,878 33–17–4 70 55 February 15 @ Tampa Bay 3–6 Annunen 19,092 33–18–4 70 56 February 18 Arizona 4–3 Georgiev 18,133 34–18–4 72 57 February 20 Vancouver 3–1 Georgiev 18,121 35–18–4 74 58 February 22 @ Detroit 1–2 OT Annunen 19,515 35–18–5 75 59 February 24 Toronto 3–4 Georgiev 18,135 35–19–5 75 60 February 27 Dallas 5–1 Georgiev 18,117 36–19–5 77 61 February 29 @ Chicago 5–0 Annunen 18,096 37–19–5 79 March: 10–2–1 (home: 6–1–1; road: 4–1–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 62 March 2 @ Nashville 1–5 Georgiev 17,474 37–20–5 79 63 March 4 Chicago 5–0 Annunen 18,125 38–20–5 81 64 March 6 Detroit 7–2 Georgiev 18,132 39–20–5 83 65 March 8 Minnesota 2–1 OT Georgiev 18,134 40–20–5 85 66 March 12 @ Calgary 6–2 Annunen 17,185 41–20–5 87 67 March 13 @ Vancouver 4–3 OT Georgiev 18,880 42–20–5 89 68 March 16 @ Edmonton 3–2 OT Georgiev 18,347 43–20–5 91 69 March 19 @ St. Louis 4–3 Annunen 18,096 44–20–5 93 70 March 22 Columbus 6–1 Georgiev 18,117 45–20–5 95 71 March 24 Pittsburgh 5–4 OT Georgiev 18,129 46–20–5 97 72 March 26 Montreal 1–2 Annunen 18,119 46–21–5 97 73 March 28 NY Rangers 2–3 SO Georgiev 18,130 46–21–6 98 74 March 30 Nashville 7–4 Annunen 18,121 47–21–6 100 April: 3–4–1 (home: 2–2–0; road: 1–2–1) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 75 April 1 @ Columbus 1–4 Annunen 16,731 47–22–6 100 76 April 4 @ Minnesota 5–2 Annunen 18,803 48–22–6 102 77 April 5 @ Edmonton 2–6 Georgiev 18,347 48–23–6 102 78 April 7 Dallas 4–7 Georgiev 18,116 48–24–6 102 79 April 9 Minnesota 5–2 Georgiev 18,097 49–24–6 104 80 April 13 Winnipeg 0–7 Georgiev 18,121 49–25–6 104 81 April 14 @ Vegas 3–4 OT Georgiev 18,239 49–25–7 105 82 April 18 Edmonton 5–1 Annunen 18,129 50–25–7 107 Legend:

Playoffs

2024 Stanley Cup playoffsWestern Conference first round vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets: Colorado won 4–1 # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 21 @ Winnipeg 6–7 Georgiev 15,225 0–1 2 April 23 @ Winnipeg 5–2 Georgiev 15,225 1–1 3 April 26 Winnipeg 6–2 Georgiev 18,124 2–1 4 April 28 Winnipeg 5–1 Georgiev 18,129 3–1 5 April 30 @ Winnipeg 6–3 Georgiev 15,225 4–1 Western Conference second round vs. (C1) Dallas Stars: Dallas won 4–2 # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 May 7 @ Dallas 4–3 OT Georgiev 18,532 1–0 2 May 9 @ Dallas 3–5 Georgiev 18,532 1–1 3 May 11 Dallas 1–4 Georgiev 18,131 1–2 4 May 13 Dallas 1–5 Georgiev 18,123 1–3 5 May 15 @ Dallas 5–3 Georgiev 18,532 2–3 6 May 17 Dallas 1–2 2OT Georgiev 18,126 2–4 Legend:

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season Player 82 51 89 140 +35 42 80 42 62 104 +19 50 77 21 69 90 +15 16 79 19 37 56 +12 28 54 28 25 53 +5 22 82 12 38 50 +28 18 80 17 23 40 61 45 16 18 34 +11 14 74 9 17 26 75 57 13 12 25 +13 34 76 8 17 25 +13 87 ‡ 63 13 10 23 34 ‡ 55 8 12 20 +1 40 75 6 13 19 +11 16 59 3 15 18 0 10 80 3 13 16 +15 38 30 5 5 10 8 † 18 4 6 10 4 23 3 7 10 +3 6 56 3 6 9 12 57 3 6 9 8 ‡ 27 1 8 9 0 10 † 18 4 3 7 +2 16 † 18 1 5 5 +2 4 25 0 5 5 +4 8 † 16 2 1 3 +3 2 ‡ 29 2 0 2 +3 23 5 1 1 2 2 13 1 1 2 +3 9 4 1 0 1 +1 0 7 1 0 1 +1 2 ‡ 9 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2

Playoffs Player 11 5 10 15 0 11 4 10 14 4 11 4 10 14 8 11 6 5 11 4 8 9 1 10 +1 2 11 3 6 9 0 2 11 2 5 7 +7 12 10 1 5 6 +4 2 11 0 5 5 +2 2 11 1 3 4 +2 2 11 3 0 3 +1 13 11 2 1 3 0 3 0 3 3 2 9 0 3 3 +3 0 8 1 1 2 +3 4 10 1 0 1 +1 4 11 1 0 1 8 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 +1 6 11 0 0 0 +4 2 11 0 0 0 6

Goaltenders Regular season Player 63 62 3,637:57 38 18 5 183 3.02 1,770 .897 2 0 2 4 14 12 801:05 8 4 1 30 2.25 414 .928 2 0 0 0 11 8 494:11 4 3 1 26 3.16 248 .895 0 0 0 0 Playoffs Player 11 11 425:23 6 5 33 2.85 311 .897 0 0 0 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Avalanche. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Transactions The Avalanche have been involved in the following transactions during the 2023–24 season.

Key:

Contract is entry-level. Contract initially takes effect in the 2024–25 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Tampa Bay LightningMTL 2nd-round pick in 2023To Colorado AvalancheRoss Colton To Carolina HurricanesCallahan BurkeTo Colorado AvalancheCaleb Jones To Seattle KrakenTomas TatarTo Colorado Avalanche5th-round pick in 2024 To New Jersey DevilsKurtis MacDermidTo Colorado AvalancheZakhar Bardakov7th-round pick in 2024 To Buffalo SabresBowen ByramTo Colorado AvalancheCasey Mittelstadt To Philadelphia FlyersRyan JohansenConditional 1st-round pick in 2025To Colorado AvalancheSean Walker5th-round pick in 2026

Players acquired Date Player Former team Term Via Ref Jack Ahcan Boston Bruins 2-year Free agency Jonathan Drouin Montreal Canadiens 1-year Free agency Arvid Holm Winnipeg Jets 1-year Free agency Corey Schueneman Montreal Canadiens 1-year Free agency Riley Tufte Dallas Stars 1-year Free agency Chris Wagner Boston Bruins 1-year Free agency Miles Wood New Jersey Devils 6-year Free agency Tomas Tatar New Jersey Devils 1-year Free agency Ivan Prosvetov Arizona Coyotes Waivers

Players lost Date Player New team Term Via Ref J. T. Compher Detroit Red Wings 5-year Free agency Lars Eller Pittsburgh Penguins 2-year Free agency Josh Jacobs St. Louis Blues 1-year Free agency Jonas Johansson Tampa Bay Lightning 2-year Free agency Erik Johnson Buffalo Sabres 1-year Free agency Mikhail Maltsev Los Angeles Kings 1-year Free agency Matt Nieto Pittsburgh Penguins 2-year Free agency Evan Rodrigues Florida Panthers 4-year Free agency Charles Hudon Ontario Reign (AHL) 2-year Free agency Denis Malgin ZSC Lions (NL) 5-year Free agency Ryan Merkley Kunlun Red Star (KHL) 1-year Free agency Keith Kinkaid New Jersey Devils 1-year Free agency Andrew Cogliano Retirement

Signings Date Player Term Ref Bowen Byram 2-year Andrew Cogliano 1-year Justus Annunen 1-year Jack Johnson 1-year Ross Colton 4-year Nikolai Kovalenko 2-year Ben Meyers 1-year Matt Stienburg 2-year Saige Weinstein 3-year Devon Toews 7-year Joel Kiviranta 1-year Ivan Ivan 2-year Jeremy Hanzel 3-year Justus Annunen 2-year Jere Innala 1-year Casey Mittelstadt 3-year

Draft picks

Below are the Avalanche's selections at the 2023 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 28 to 29, 2023, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Round # Player Pos. Nationality Team (League)127 Calum Ritchie C Oshawa Generals (OHL)31 Mikhail Gulyayev D Avangard Omsk (KHL)5155 Nikita Ishimnikov D JHC Avto (MHL)6187 Jeremy Hanzel D Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)7219 Maros Jedlicka C HKM Zvolen (Slovak Extraliga)

References