If one views winning the Stanley Cup as the most difficult thing to do in team sports, then the Avalanche certainly deserve a massive bit of credit. Colorado is an example of how championship-caliber teams are built: drafting well, developing young players and then supplementing with smart veteran additions. The Avs' offensive creativity during their Stanley Cup run was enticing, and it wouldn't be shocking to see them set up as a potential dynasty for the decade with that kind of prowess.
- Peter Panacy
FanSided Associate Editor
Best fan moment of the year
If one wants to make the argument that the Stanley Cup is the hardest achievement in all team sports, then how can someone overlook the Avalanche doing just that? Lord Stanley remembers, and how the Avs went about building a championship-caliber team is a model all others in the NHL should follow.
Why we needed this fandom this year
Look, with all respect to the Tampa Bay Lightning, no one wants to see an NHL dynasty team out in Florida. And no matter how good the Lightning have been these three seasons in a row, someone needs to knock them off a pedestal. No threepeat to watch here, thanks to the Avs.