Colorado Avalanche assemble new look $20,000,000 first line
It's highly inevitable that players gain value from having won a Stanley Cup. After winning the Stanley Cup last season the Avalanche were forced to make some difficult personnel decision over the summer. That ultimately leads to shuffling the lines and seeking out new line combinations.
At training camp, it was reported by Peter Baugh from The Athletic that the Avalanche are set to run a very new and very expensive first line.
Looks like Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Rantanen is the top line to start camp.� Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) September 22, 2022
Peter Baugh tweeted that MacKinnon, Rantanen and Lehkonen have been practicing together as the 1st line trio. One thing is for sure, the Avalanche can't complain as they have massive skill with the 3 playing together. This would mark a massive promotion for Lehkonen who saw mostly depth usage last season.
With MacKinnon in his final year of his current deal paying $6,500,000 we can expect this line to only get more expensive as he is going to be making on average of $6,000,000 more starting next year. It will be interesting to see if this line makes it to Game 1 of the season.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 22 | 121 ANSWERS Colorado Avalanche assemble new look $20,000,000 first line Will the Colorado Avalanche repeat? | ||
| They'll win the West but not the Cup | 54 | 44.6 % |
| They'll repeat | 33 | 27.3 % |
| No, and they won't win the West | 34 | 28.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Sam Bennett (9) celebrates scoring with forward Brandon Hagel (38) and forward Mitch Marner (16) against Team USA during the second period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/533453.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Sam Bennett (9) celebrates scoring with forward Brandon Hagel (38) and forward Mitch Marner (16) against Team USA during the second period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images")
