Central Division 2014-15 Preview: Colorado Avalanche
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SI.com's 2014-15 Preseason All-NHL Teams: first, second, third
: Patrick Roy
2013-14 RECORD: 52-22-8, 112 points (first in Central; lost to Wild, 4-3, in first round)
VITAL SIGNS: 2.99 goals per game (4th); 2.63 goals-against per game (15th); 19.8 power play pct. (5th); 80.7 penalty kill pct (24th); shootout record: 5-4 (19th)
NOTABLE ARRIVALS: RW Jarome Iginla, F Jesse Winchester, C Daniel Briere, D Brad Stuart
NOTABLE DEPARTURES: C Paul Stastny, LW P.A. Parenteau
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART:
Forwards
Ryan O'Reilly — Matt Duchene — Jarome Iginla
Gabriel Landeskog — Nathan MacKinnon — Alex Tanguay
Max Talbot — John Mitchell — Daniel Briere
Cody McLeod — Jesse Winchester — Marc-Andre Cliche
Joey Hishon
Defensemen
Brad Stuart — Erik Johnson
Jan Hejda — Tyson Barrie
Nick Holden — Ryan Wilson
Nate Guenin, Zach Redmond
Goalies
Semyon Varlamov
Reto Berra
Fancy Stats Primer: Your guide to hockey's advanced analytics jargon
Reto Berra
• Roy expects tougher season this time
Jarome Iginla
At 37, Iginla is coming off his twelfth 30-goal season and he used his consistency to score a three-year deal with a team he hopes will deliver the first Stanley Cup of his long, productive career. While his hands still work just fine, his declining speed was exposed in the Bruins' second-round loss to the Canadiens. He'll have to prove that he can keep up with the Avs' young guns and is worth the big offseason money.
• Iginla offered assistant captain's role
PREDICTION: 97 points, fourth in Central (wild card 1)
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