A Former Avalanche Goaltender Is Working His Way Back. Colorado Could Use the Depth.

There's a report circulating this week that a former Avalanche star goaltender — one who had appeared headed toward retirement — is now preparing for an NHL comeback. The details on who exactly and what that return looks like remain thin, but the timing is worth noting for Colorado fans who remember how thin the goaltending depth chart looked by the time the Vegas series unraveled in the spring.

The beat narrative on this team's playoff collapse centers on finishing — Ross Colton going scoreless on 29 shots in the final stretch, Gabriel Landeskog converting just one in 25 attempts — and that's fair. But goaltending depth was a quiet concern throughout the second half of the season too, and it's one the front office hasn't loudly addressed this offseason. Most of the roster surgery since June has been forward-focused: Jaden Schwartz, Georgii Merkulov, Zach L'Heureux. Schwartz remains out with no clear timeline, which means the contingency layers keep stacking.

A veteran goaltender who knows the organization, knows the altitude, and has playoff experience in this building is not nothing. My read is that Colorado doesn't need a starter — Sakic's offseason moves suggest confidence there — but a credible backup option with familiarity would be a quieter, cheaper fix than anything else currently on the table. Worth watching as camp approaches.