NHL Rumors: Consequences For Avalanche After Another First Round Exit

Monday, May 05, 2025 ,
Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas on the ice during 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs game.

Another year. Another early exit. Another gut-wrenching playoff loss to the Dallas Stars. 

For the Colorado Avalanche, the Game 7 collapse wasn’t just shocking—it was defining. After blowing a 2-0 third-period lead and watching former teammate Mikko Rantanen dismantle them with a four-point night, the Avs are left searching for answers and staring down a summer of tough conversations and even tougher decisions.

The core of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar remains intact, but how long can that be enough? “I don’t know what we’re going to do,” MacKinnon said postgame, visibly stunned. And it’s a fair question. The Avalanche had everything they needed—a healthy roster, the return of captain Gabriel Landeskog, midseason upgrades at center and in goal, and a limping Stars team missing Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson. Yet they failed to close. Again.

Coaching and Management Now Under the Microscope

Jared Bednar is now 0-4 in playoff series against Pete DeBoer, including back-to-back losses in 2024 and 2025. Calls for a coaching change are growing louder, with Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler urging the Avalanche to “thank [Bednar] for his service” and pursue DU’s David Carle. Even MacKinnon couldn’t hide his frustration, saying bluntly, “Yeah. Bad adjustments,” when asked why the Avs’ power play sputtered to a 13.6% clip—the third-worst among playoff teams.

General manager Chris MacFarland is also facing heat. His bold trade deadline gamble brought in Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, and others, but it didn’t move the needle. Nelson didn’t score in the series and is likely gone as a UFA. Meanwhile, the controversial Rantanen trade looms large—Martin Necas and Jack Drury were solid, but neither came close to replacing the game-breaking ability Rantanen flashed while eliminating his former team.

Future Complications: Cap Crunch and Draft Drought

The Avalanche have just $8.7 million in projected cap space, and the bill is coming due. Landeskog’s full $7 million cap hit returns next season, and Makar is due for a massive extension in 2027. Worse, Colorado has no first-round picks until that same year, thanks to a series of aggressive win-now trades. The team has maxed out its credit card and might still be short a reliable second-line center, a cohesive coaching plan, and a winning playoff formula.

This wasn't a normal first-round loss—it was a devastating missed opportunity, and the pressure now shifts to the front office. Bednar and MacFarland may be safe for now, but if 2026 ends in similar fashion, heads could roll. As MacKinnon said, “We were in complete control of the game the whole time and just lost it.” The Avalanche are still contenders—but another year like this, and they might be just another what-if.

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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