A new season means a new team. Here’s how the Avalanche are expected to line up Tuesday in the season opener against the Los Angeles Kings:

First line

Artturi Lehkonen, left wing

Age: 30; Size: 5-foot-11, 179 pounds 

Bednar’s long-lost Finnish son is coming off a career-high 27 goals and managed to stay healthy once he returned from offseason shoulder surgery. The Avalanche know what they’re going to get every night from the Finn, who will never short you on effort. His versatility gives Bednar the option of moving him up and down the lineup. He’s a fit next to MacKinnon. 

Nathan MacKinnon, center

Age: 30; Size: 6-foot, 200 pounds 

Time flies, because it feels like yesterday MacKinnon was entering the NHL as an 18-year-old. He’s now a grizzled vet at 30 and at the peak of his abilities. MacKinnon is the engine of the Avs. As as long as he’s playing the way he has been the last 6-7 years, this team will be in contention. 

Martin Necas, right wing

Age: 26 years old; Size: 6-foot-3, 195 pounds 

Many in and around the organization believe last year was the start of something great for Necas, who picked up a career-high 83 points. At times, he looks capable of doing whatever he wants on the ice, but the staff wants him to get his nose a little dirtier around the net. 

Second line

Gabriel Landeskog, left wing

Age: 32: Size: 6-foot-1, 215 pounds 

For the first time since 2022, the Avalanche will begin a regular season with their captain healthy. He didn’t fight to come back just to be a bit player, though. He looked strong in camp, picking up where he left off in the postseason. It’s difficult to overstate how important it is for this team to have him back in the locker room on a daily basis. How will he hold up over an 82-game season? Standby. 

Brock Nelson, center

Age: 33 years old; Size: 6-foot-4, 205 pounds 

There’s a comfort level with Nelson that wasn’t there six months ago. He’s received rave reviews from coaches and teammates, and if he can return to the 30-goal scorer he’s been in recent years, the Avalanche are in good shape down the middle. 

Valeri Nichushkin, right wing

Age: 30; Size: 6-foot-4, 210 pounds 

It was a quiet camp for Nichushkin. After the last few years, that’s a good thing. He appears to be in a good spot, as he’s as vocal as ever in the locker room with teammates when the media is around. “I expect him to have a big start,” Bednar said. 

Third line

Ross Colton, left wing

Age: 29: 6-foot, 194 pounds 

The Avalanche have tried him at center, but they prefer him at the wing where he can be more of a menace on the forecheck. Colton is looking to bounce back from a tough second half that ended with him missing most of the series against the Stars due to a groin injury. 

Jack Drury, center 

Age: 25: Size: 5-foot-11, 186 pounds 

It didn’t take long for Drury to become a favorite of Bednar’s. His ability to consistently win face-offs will earn him plenty of ice-time. Does he have the offensive ability necessary to be the ‘3C’ that’s missing? If that doesn’t happen, the organization will have no problem reuniting the Drury, Kelly and O’Connor line when everyone is healthy. 

Victor Olofsson, right wing 

Age: 30: Size: 5-foot-11, 180 pounds 

The wild card up front. Possesses a lethal shot that could be a weapon for the Avalanche, but he has to show last year in Vegas wasn’t a fluke and that’s he’s a trusted defensive player now.  

Fourth line

Parker Kelly, left wing

Age: 26; 6-foot-1, 185 pounds 

For two-thirds of his first season in Colorado, Kelly was almost like a dog on a leash playing center. When Drury arrived, that leash was removed, and Kelly flourished back on the wing, wreaking havoc on the opposition with his forechecking ability. After signing a long-term extension, the chaos should continue with him back on the wing. 

Zakhar Bardakov, center

Age: 24; Size: 6-foot-2, 198 pounds 

Bednar believes Bardakov can be the prototypical fourth-line center and loves Bardakov’s heavy, straight-forward game. The Russian can be a pain in the butt for the opposition as he can stay out of the penalty box, something he struggled with in the KHL. 

Gavin Brindley, right wing

Age: 21; Size: 5-foot-8, 173 pounds

Brindley earned his job in the preseason. He’s expected to be in the lineup on opening night, something that seemed unlikely a month ago. “He’s highly competitive, and I think he adds some skill to our lineup,” Bednar said.

Top pair

Devon Toews

Age: 31; Size: 6-foot-1, 191 pounds 

He hasn’t been named to Team Canada yet, but he’ll be there when February rolls around, taking his spot next to Makar. An effortless skater who owns one of the best defensive sticks in the league. As dependable as it gets at both ends of the rink. 

Cale Makar

Age: 26; Size: 6-foot, 187 pounds 

What’s next for the best defenseman in the world? He has two Norris trophies, a Conn Smythe and a Stanley Cup ring before he turns 27. If he cracks 100 points, something he’s capable of doing, is a Hart Trophy in his future? 

Second pair

Samuel Girard

Age: 27; Size: 5-foot-10, 170 pounds 

Girard takes a lot of heat from fans due to his lack of size, but the coaching staff trusts the smooth-skating defenseman to eat up a lot of minutes. His ability to transition the puck quickly out of the defensive zone is huge for how the Avalanche want to play. 

Josh Manson

Age: 34: Size: 6-foot-3, 218 pounds 

Manson brings an element to Colorado’s ‘D’ it otherwise lacks, and that’s physical intimidation. That style of play can take its toll on a player and Manson has had trouble staying healthy. As long as he’s good for the playoffs, the Avalanche don’t mind if he misses a few games before then. 

Third pair

Sam Malinski

Age: 27: Size: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds 

The Avalanche are asking a lot of Malinski, who could become an unrestricted free agent next summer. With a surplus of right-shot defensemen, they’re looking for him to make the move to the left side, which isn’t easy. His first full season in the NHL was up and down, so he’s still figuring out how to be a consistent pro. Now he’s got one more thing on his plate to figure out. 

Brent Burns

Age: 40; Size: 6-foot-5, 228 pounds 

This old dog still has some bite left. He’ might’s not the point producer he was with the Sharks, but he’s still capable of eating heavy minutes on an NHL blue line. His penalty-kill analytics are “sparkling,” assistant coach Nolan Pratt said, so expect him to play a lot when the Avalanche are down a man. 

Goaltenders

Mackenzie Blackwood

Age: 28; Size: 6-foot-4, 225 pounds 

If Blackwood plays well, he could play his way onto the Olympics roster for Team Canada. The physical talent is undeniable, but he’s struggled with injuries. That’s why his absence from camp due to a lower-body injury is concerning. If he’s healthy, this team will contend. 

Trent Miner

Age: 24; Size: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds 

A fighter who’s had to work his way up through every level to get a sniff at the NHL. In an ideal world, he’s starting for the Colorado Eagles, but with Blackwood’s injury, he could see NHL action early. 

Scott Wedgewood

Age: 33; Size: 6-foot-2, 201 pounds 

The ultimate vibes guy and a coach’s dream as a backup goaltender. You could feel the energy in the locker room shift when he arrived last December. A fantastic teammate and the Avalanche are comfortable with him as their starting goaltender if Blackwood does miss some time. 

Extras

Joel Kiviranta, right wing

Age: 29; Size: 5-foot-11, 185 pounds 

It’s best not to expect another 16-goal season out of Kiviranta, but you should expect a player the staff will lean on in defensive situations. Spent most of last year on the third line, but in a perfect world, he’s in a lesser role. 

Jack Ahcan, defense

Age: 28; Size: 5-foot-8, 180 pounds

The Avalanche are big fans of the undersized Ahcan, who had a strong camp. He has limited NHL experience, but that’s never seemed to bother this organization.

Ilya Solovyov, defense

Age: 25; Size: 6-foot-3, 208 pounds

Picked up on waivers prior to the start of the season, Solovyov will have to clear immigration before he can join the team on the ice. Colorado is a big fan of his penalty-killing metrics while playing in Calgary’s organization. “We’re just looking for him to come in and see if he can be firm, shut down plays, and move the puck efficiently,” Chris MacFarland said.

Logan O’Connor, right wing

Age: 29; Size: 6-foot, 175 pounds

O’Connor is expected to return from offseason hip surgery around Halloween. A vital piece of the bottom six and penalty kill and has become a leader in the locker room.