42-19-13-8 (105 pts)
3rd in West
6th overall

Keith Ballard, D (T-Buf); Paul Kariya, LW (FA-Ana); Tom Lawson, G (FA); Andrei Nikolishin, C (T-Chi); Teemu Selanne, RW (FA-SJ); Karlis Skrastins, D (T-Nas); Tomas Slovak, D (T-Nas); Peter Worrell, LW (T-Fla)

Eric Bertrand, LW (FA-Europe); Travis Brigley, LW (T-Ana); Greg de Vries, D (FA-NYR); Mike Keane, RW (FA-Van); Bryan Marchment, D (FA-Tor); Eric Messier, LW (T-Fla); Bryan Muir, D (FA-LA); Vaclav Nedorost, C (T-Fla); Scott Parker, RW (T-SJ); Jeff Paul, D (FA-Fla); Steve Reinprecht, C/LW (T-Cgy); Steve Reinprecht, LW (T-Buf); Patrick Roy, G (Ret); Jeff Shantz, C (FA-Europe); Sergei Soin, C (T-Nas)

Goaltending is expected to be Colorado's greatest challenge — and potentially their Achilles' heel — this season. With future Hall of Famer Patrick Roy now retired, the starting duties become David Aebischer's responsibility.

The inexperienced Swiss netminder has shown promise in his three NHL seasons; however, he has never been a starter in his young pro career. Aebischer had a losing mark on a strong Colorado squad last season (7-12-0), despite a respectable 2.43 goals-against average and .916 save percentage.

Sophomore head coach Tony Granato has even less experience in his backup, Philippe Sauve. The rookie son of former NHL goalie Bob Sauve has never suited up in an NHL contest. However, the Avs' brass feels Sauve is ready to take over No. 2 duties in Colorado and think he could emerge as a No. 1 guy some time soon. The 23-year-old Sauve has been named MVP of the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears the past three seasons.

Colorado shouldn't have a lot of problems illuminating the red light this year. The NHL's fifth-ranked offence last season (3.06 goals per game) has added snipers Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne to a lineup that already features scoring champ Peter Forsberg, perennial all-star Joe Sakic and emerging superstar Milan Hejduk.

Neither the Sakic-Kariya-Selanne line nor the Forsberg-Hejduk-Alex Tanguay unit would look out of place at an All-Star Game — a frightening predicament for opposing NHL squads. It's enough to give any netminder nightmares.

Avs general manager Pierre Lacroix even added some big-time toughness in left-winger Peter Worrell — just in case any teams decide to take runs or cheap shots at Colorado's stable of stars. Worrell, who finished fifth in the league with 193 penalty minutes in 2002-03, is among the most feared fighters in the NHL.

Colorado's defence isn't too shabby either. The Avs sport a top-notch blue line led by power-play specialists Rob Blake and Derek Morris. Veteran Adam Foote and the skilled Martin Skoula also provide the club with defensive depth. Greg de Vries departed via free agency to the New York Rangers, but Lacroix replaced him with former Nashville Predator Karlis Skrastins.

Picking just one gamebreaker on the Avs is no simple feat. This Colorado club is filled with superstars (Sakic, Selanne, Hejduk and Blake) who would be the central figure on many an NHL squad. But it's the skilled Swede Forsberg who has made the greatest impact on the club of late. After a standout playoff performance in 2001-02, Forsberg took his game to the next level last season by winning his first scoring title and earning the Hart Trophy as league MVP. With the Avs' added offensive depth, there's no telling what the 30-year-old Forsberg will do in 2003-04 — provided he can stay injury-free.