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ESPN stirs the pot with controversial new ranking centered around the Colorado Avalanche
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Colorado keeps driving the league conversation as the Colorado Avalanche pull the only A grade from ESPN at the quarter mark of the season. That recognition matches the flashes of dominance shown during an opening stretch built on speed and relentless pressure.
Will Petersen's Denver Sports report notes how ESPN viewed Colorado as the most convincing early team, pointing to results that rarely dipped and performances that stacked quality wins. The Avs built an identity rooted in aggressive puck pursuit and clean exits that fed quick strike chances.
ESPN ignites controversy after dropping surprising Avalanche ranking.
Nathan MacKinnon set the tone with another elite start that pushed his scoring pace back toward the levels that defined his Hart Trophy season. His ability to tilt the ice opened room for Mikko Rantanen and boosted a power play that leaned on crisp puck movement rather than volume shooting.
Cale Makar jumped into rushes with controlled timing, which sharpened Colorado's transition game and gave opponents a constant matchup problem. Those contributions helped the Avalanche post one of the league's best goal differentials during the first quarter.
Fans felt the shift too, describing this Avalanche group as steadier than last season's version, even when injuries forced lineup juggling. That sense of stability reflected clearer defensive layers and improved puck support from the bottom six.
The ESPN grade echoed what Colorado displayed nightly, a mix of tempo and execution that rarely came with lulls. Line changes flowed smoothly, and even short stints in the defensive zone ended with controlled clears rather than scrambles.
Denver Sports framed the A grade as both a nod to Colorado's consistency and a challenge to avoid drifting into comfort. The Avs responded with tighter neutral zone structure that reduced rush chances against. Colorado's next step is staying healthy while keeping its pace steady through the winter grind.
The Avalanche earned this grade by playing connected hockey, and the coming stretch will reveal how firmly this foundation can hold. Another way to say it, Colorado's first quarter looked like a team that understands its window and intends to keep it wide open.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 28 | 19 ANSWERS ESPN stirs the pot with controversial new ranking centered around the Colorado Avalanche Can the Colorado Avalanche maintain an A level through the next quarter of the season? | ||
| Yes | 19 | 100 % |
| No | 0 | 0 % |
| List of polls | ||
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