Avalanche start 3-0-0 behind Wedgwood’s steady fill-in for Blackwood, Landeskog’s return lending leadership, and Burns’ veteran edge stabilizing the blue line. Early energy and improved pace hint at last year’s rust fading as the team builds depth and structure.

Offense centers on Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon, with Burns mentoring a younger pairing. Haxtall’s new special-teams approach shows promise on the power play, which must finish more consistently. Dallas and Buffalo loom as early-season tests to confirm whether the surge sticks and goaltending holds.