The Avalanche are Stanley Cup heavyweights with a simple enough philosophy from general manager Chris MacFarland.

“We’re trying to win, right?” MacFarland said at a Tuesday news conference to preview their Western Conference finals matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Of course, there’s nothing simple about how MacFarland assembled this championship-level team. The Avs have only three drafted players — Gabe Landeskog, Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon — on their active roster.

The remaining players were acquired in trades or signed as free agents. Their success is a big reason why MacFarland is among three finalists for the NHL’s general manager of the year award.

“We’re sacrificing some of that youth. Some of those picks and prospects. So, you’ve got to delve into (free agency),” MacFarland said. “Our scouts have done a great job supplementing the moving out of the (draft) picks. We’ve got high, high-end drafted players that are still with us. … But the cycle that it’s kind of been building on over the last 7-8 years — that’s just part of the beast.”

MacFarland bolstered their roster starting in the offseason by signing Brent Burns and retaining Brock Nelson. MacFarland kept building in season with trades for Nazem Kadri, Brett Kulak, Nicolas Roy and Nick Blankenburg. The Avalanche led the overall NHL standings from the start of November to the end of the year with a franchise-record 121 points.

Avs coach Jared Bednar said that GM of the year recognition is “well deserved” for MacFarland.

“I think it’s probably a couple of years coming. But oftentimes with the work you put in — and the blood, sweat, and tears — there’s a delayed reaction,” Bednar said. “This team for me wasn’t just built in this year. It was built over the last couple of years with the guys that have remained, with some of the new guys we got last year. … I’ve known and worked with (MacFarland) for a long time. No one’s going to outwork him and no one’s going to watch more games.”

MacFarland chimed in at the joint news conference: “Easy. Easy.”

Bednar continued: “I shouldn’t say nobody. … A lot of the tough (decisions) that we’ve made over the years, especially in the last couple of years, they all seem to be turning out and working out pretty well for us again this year.”

Logan O’Connor has played in more than 300 NHL games with the Avalanche going back to 2018. O’Connor explained what he values the most about how MacFarland approaches his role as general manager.

“He genuinely wants the best for the person. Firsthand, I dealt with the injury I had this year that lingered throughout the season. It was challenging for me. As a GM, my concern was that potentially I’d be facing tons of pressure from management in order to play — which there is to a certain extent,” O’Connor told The Denver Gazette. “But they were super supportive in helping me through that. They didn’t put any more pressure on me. … He has time to talk to all the guys. He has good relationships with everyone. He’s just super supportive. He’s been awesome.”

Should MacFarland win NHL GM of the year?

“I don’t know how he can’t be,” O’Connor said. “I think over the last couple of years his name should have been (up for the award). But for him to get recognized this year, I’m super proud of him. He’s put his neck on the line for a lot of these moves and he’s put us in a great position in order to win. That gives us as a group a lot of trust.

“We want to go win it for him.”