Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are an NHL franchise in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.

The Avalanche began their existence in the WHA as the Quebec Nordiques. Quebec was successful in the WHA, winning the championship in 1977 and losing in the finals in 1975. Because of their success, they were granted admittance into the NHL. After a successful run in the 1980s, the Nordiques earned a number of high draft picks after some poor seasons in the early ‘90s. The team drafted three superstars, including Mats Sundin, Owen Nolan and Eric Lindros. The most notable of these picks was Eric Lindros who refused to sign with Quebec. The Nordiques traded the highly regarded power forward to Philadelphia for Peter Forsberg, five other players, two draft picks and $15 million. The trade helped create the foundation for one of the most successful franchises in the mid-‘90s. In 1995, Quebec moved to Colorado after financial struggles created a need to find a larger market for the club.

In Colorado, the Avalanche were immediately one of the top teams in the league. Along with Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote staying with the team through the move, star goalie Patrick Roy was added to the team in 1995. The Avalanche rode Roy’s star play and a high-powered offense to a division title and the playoffs. Colorado beat out Vancouver, Chicago and Detroit on the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they swept Florida to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. The next year, the Avalanche rekindled a rivalry with the Detroit Red Wings, losing a heated Conference Finals matchup in six games.