The Avalanche’s projected 2017-18 opening-night roster:
FORWARDS
10 Sven Andrighetto LW 24 5-10 188
The speedster from Switzerland had 16 points in 19 games after being acquired from Montreal on March 1. The Avs are pegging him to do big things on a top line with and .
8 RW 27 6-5 221
Went from 19 goals with Calgary in 2015-16 to just four last season in Colorado, and just one in his last 61 games. Battling a back injury but is expected to provide help on the third and fourth lines.
14 RW 31 6-1 202
The Avs’ second-oldest player is one of the team’s best leaders and eager to reach the playoffs in what could be the final year of his career. Avs will need to make huge improvements for that to happen.
37 J.T. Compher C 22 6-0 193
The Avs are looking at the former Michigan captain as a major building block. Don’t expect big offensive numbers this season, but he’s a complete player.
9 C 26 5-11 195
Duchene, the subject of trade rumors since last spring, could be gone tomorrow. Or he could retire in Colorado. One thing is for certain: He’s an elite offensive player.
17 Tyson Jost C 19 5-11 191
Jost probably should be in his sophomore season at North Dakota. But the No. 1 prospect for the NHL’s worst team is needed now, and the sky is the limit for the kid who seemingly does everything well.
13 Alex Kerfoot RW 23 5-10 175
The Harvard graduate spurned the to sign with the Avs and has been impressive throughout training camp. He’s already worked his way into a top-six role.
92 LW 23 6-1 215
“Landy” is a legitimate NHL power forward capable of reaching 30 goals per season, but he has declined each of the past four years, producing 26, 23, 20 and 18 goals, respectively. The Avs are counting on that trend to reverse.
29 Nathan MacKinnon C 22 6-0 205
The super-skilled MacKinnon burst onto the scene in a big way as a rookie, but is yet another young guy looking to turn around a career seemingly in decline. He’s still capable of becoming one of the best forwards in the game.
83 Matt Nieto LW 23 5-11 190
Picked up on waivers midway through last season, the Southern California native is a speedster playing for his next contract.
96 Mikko Rantanen RW 20 6-4 211
Rantanen is a remarkable talent who led the Avs with 20 goals last season. He’s capable of becoming an elite NHL winger before his 21st birthday later this month.
34 C 31 6-3 210
Soderberg will pocket $4.75 million this season and the following two seasons, yet he’s pegged to be a healthy scratch on opening night. Like many of the Avs, he has much to prove.
22 Colin Wilson LW 27 6-1 221
The newcomer from Nashville saw his promising career fade in the Music City. But the Avs believe Wilson can restore it with a fresh start.
64 Nail Yakupov RW 23 5-11 195
The No. 1 selection in the 2012 draft had a fine rookie season in Edmonton, but the Oilers gave up on him three years later and the Russian mustered just three goals in 40 games for St. Louis last season. He gets a fresh start at a discounted price with the Avs.
DEFENSEMEN
44 Mark Barberio 27 6-1 207
A terrific waiver-wire pickup from Montreal last season, Barberio helped stabilize an inadequate blue line and will again play in all situations.
4 26 5-10 190
Barrie is your ideal power-play specialist from the point. Question is, can he develop into a top-four defenseman at even strength?
3 22 6-1 190
In his fifth Avalanche training camp, the 2013 draft pick has put himself in position to be a full-time NHL player. His development stalled last season because of a concussion.
6 29 6-4 225
A leader on the ice and in the dressing room, the Avalanche’s premier defenseman plays perhaps the biggest role on the team — and it’s what he’s built for.
94 Andrei Mironov 23 6-3, 194
In his first year in North American, Mironov will play in the NHL. The Russian beat out fellow rookie Anton Lindholm in making the opening-night roster. Mironov played five years in Kontinental Hockey League.
12 Patrik Nemeth 25 6-3, 219
He’s a benefit of the Avs having first priority on the waiver wire. Nemeth, a former second-round draft pick, was picked up on waivers from Dallas on Tuesday. The defensive defenseman won’t offer much in the offensive end.
16 22 6-5 230
The big Russian is pegged to play with Johnson on the top pairing, and every indication is he will take off from his breakout season a year ago, which was cut short because of a broken ankle. Zadorov could become a dominant defenseman.
GOALIES
1 29 6-2 209
So much of the Avs’ fortunes depend on how Varlamov performs on a consistent basis. His hip surgeries over the winter should give him a chance to return to the elite-level goalie he used to be.
45 Jonathan Bernier 29 6-0 184
Bernier, a free agent acquisition, was the first goalie selected in the 2006 draft, by Los Angeles at No. 11 overall — 13 spots ahead of the man he will back up.
