Nathan MacKinnon will lead the Colorado Avalanche core into next season with coach Jared Bednar, as Joe Sakic throws his support behind the team.
On Thursday, Sakic announced his trust in the core group, including MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and captain Gabriel Landeskog.
What happened?
The Avalanche had a remarkable regular season, producing a franchise-most 121 points and winning the Presidents' Trophy.
However, they were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final.
Why it matters for Nathan MacKinnon
Sakic prefers to focus on the regular season success rather than the disappointing playoff run.
He believes the team deserves another chance to succeed with the current core.
What comes next?
The Avalanche will look to sign Cale Makar to an extension, with conversations already underway.
Makar turned in a 20-goal season for the third consecutive year.
The team was hit by injuries in the playoffs, including Makar missing two games against the Golden Knights.
But Sakic expects everyone to be at 100% for training camp.
Joe Sakic, the president of hockey operations and de facto general manager, will look to build on the team's success.
He won two Cup championships with the Avalanche and was the architect behind their 2021-22 Stanley Cup title.
The Avalanche's fast-paced style has been successful in the regular season, but Sakic downplayed any issues with this approach.
He believes the team can succeed with their current style and core group.
Sakic's support for Bednar is significant, given the coach's contract is entering its final year.
Bednar has the most wins in Avalanche history and has the respect of the players.
The Avalanche will look to bounce back from their disappointing playoff run and make another deep push next season.
With Nathan MacKinnon leading the core, they will be a team to watch in the NHL.