The Colorado Avalanche didn't just clinch the Presidents' Trophy on April 9, 2026 — they announced themselves as the NHL's dominant force heading into what could be a dynasty-defining postseason run. A 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames at Ball Arena secured the trophy for the fourth time in franchise history, but the celebration came with an asterisk: key injuries to Cale Makar and Nazem Kadri have introduced genuine uncertainty into what looked like a clear path to the Stanley Cup.
With the playoffs beginning in nine days, the Avalanche sit at 51-16-10 and 112 points — a record that demands respect. The question isn't whether Colorado is the best team in hockey. It's whether they can be the best team in hockey when it matters most, and whether their stars will be healthy enough to prove it.
Presidents' Trophy Clinched: What Happened Against Calgary
The Denver Post captured the night well: the Avalanche extinguished the Flames in a performance that reflected their regular-season dominance. Gabriel Landeskog, Martin Necas, and Nathan MacKinnon each scored, while MacKenzie Blackwood was sharp in net, stopping 29 of 30 shots to preserve the win.
The victory was more than a trophy ceremony. It came just two days after Colorado had already clinched the Central Division title and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a win in St. Louis on April 7. ESPN's recap of that Blues game underscored how methodically this team dismantled the competition down the stretch.
It's also worth noting the context of this particular Flames matchup: roughly two weeks prior, the Avalanche had demolished Calgary 9-2, scoring five times in the opening period alone. This is not a team that coasts. They come in waves.
MacKinnon's goal in the clincher carried additional weight. He moved into third place on the franchise's all-time single-season point list, surpassing Peter Stastny's 124 points — a mark that stood for decades and one that belongs in a different era of hockey. MacKinnon playing at this level in 2026 is not a fluke; it's the sustained output of one of the greatest players of his generation.
Fourth Presidents' Trophy: A Franchise Milestone With Complicated History
According to The Hockey News, this is the fourth Presidents' Trophy in Colorado Avalanche franchise history, joining the 1997, 2001, and 2021 teams. That 2021 squad, of course, went on to win the Stanley Cup the following year — which is exactly the kind of historical precedent Avalanche fans want to lean on right now.
But the broader history of the Presidents' Trophy is genuinely humbling. Only 8 of the previous 37 winners have gone on to win the Stanley Cup. The most recent was the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks. That means roughly 78% of the league's best regular-season teams have failed to convert their dominance into a championship — a sobering reminder that the NHL playoffs operate by their own brutal logic.
The Avalanche know this better than most. Their 2021 Presidents' Trophy season ended in a second-round exit against Vegas, before they returned in 2022 and won it all. Since that Cup victory, Colorado has reached the playoffs each year but has not advanced past the second round. That drought — combined with the mounting injury concerns — gives this postseason run an urgency that the regular-season records can't fully capture.
The Injury Cloud: Makar and Kadri's Status Heading Into the Playoffs
The elephant in the room isn't the Presidents' Trophy. It's Cale Makar.
The Avalanche's franchise defenseman suffered an upper body injury on March 30 against — somewhat ironically — the Calgary Flames. He has not returned since. In 71 games this season, Makar posted 20 goals and 72 points, continuing to establish himself as the best defenseman in the world. On March 28, he became the fourth-fastest defenseman in NHL history to record 500 career points, a milestone that only reinforces what Colorado would be losing if he can't go.
As of April 9, there is no official timeline for his return. The Avalanche have been deliberately vague, which is standard playoff-era information management — but also genuinely worrying. A healthy Makar transforms Colorado's ceiling. An absent Makar is a significant structural vulnerability, particularly against the elite forwards they'll face in the Western Conference bracket.
The Kadri situation is separate but adds to the concern. Heavy.com reported that Kadri suffered a finger injury and is expected to miss some games, though coach Jared Bednar was clear that the playoffs are not in jeopardy for the veteran forward. That's the good news. The less good news is that Kadri was re-acquired from Calgary on March 6 in what was clearly a playoff-motivated move, and he had quickly shown why — posting nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) since returning. Losing even a few games of integration time matters for chemistry.
For the latest breakdown of the Flames vs. Avalanche dynamics that preceded this moment, including what the 9-2 blowout revealed about Colorado's depth, that earlier preview provides valuable context.
MacKinnon's Historic Season and the Core That Powers Colorado
Nathan MacKinnon's regular season deserves its own section because it's operating in a historical register that goes beyond "great player, great year." Surpassing Peter Stastny's 124-point mark — a record set in the 1980s — connects MacKinnon to the lineage of Avalanche/Nordiques greatness in a way that resonates beyond statistics.
The franchise has housed some of the greatest players in NHL history: Stastny, Michel Goulet, Joe Sakic, Patrick Roy, Peter Forsberg. MacKinnon is making the argument that he belongs in that company, possibly at the top of it. And he's doing it in a season where the team around him has also been exceptional.
Gabriel Landeskog's nomination by the Colorado PHWA chapter for the 2026 Masterton Trophy — awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication — adds another layer to this story. Landeskog's return from serious injury and his continued contributions (including a goal in the Presidents' Trophy clincher) is one of the feel-good narratives of the NHL season.
Martin Necas, who also scored in the Flames game, has been a significant contributor at even strength. MacKenzie Blackwood's 29-save performance highlighted the goaltending depth that gives Colorado flexibility in a long playoff run.
The Western Conference Bracket: What Home Ice Actually Means
Home-ice advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs is not a minor perk. For a team like Colorado, with Ball Arena operating at a fever pitch all season, it's a genuine edge.
The updated 2026 NHL playoff bracket from Bleacher Report shows the full Western Conference picture. As the No. 1 seed, Colorado will face the No. 8 seed in the first round — the lowest-seeded team to make it in from the West. That matchup should, on paper, be the most favorable possible first-round draw.
But the NHL playoffs routinely punish that kind of assumption. The Avalanche's recent history of second-round exits is partly a product of encountering playoff-hardened teams at full strength after having dispatched a lighter first-round opponent. The Western Conference bracket in 2026 is deep and physical. Whether Colorado gets through will depend enormously on Makar's availability.
The team is also looking to advance past the second round for the first time since winning the Cup in 2022 — that four-year gap isn't a failure, exactly, but it's a growing source of urgency for a window that is still open but not infinite.
What This Means: An Honest Assessment of Colorado's Stanley Cup Odds
Here's the honest read on the Avalanche heading into the 2026 playoffs: they are the best team in hockey by regular-season record, they have the league's best player in MacKinnon at or near the peak of his powers, and their home-ice advantage is a real structural benefit. On a neutral-ice series-by-series basis, Colorado is the team every other contender least wants to face.
And yet. The Presidents' Trophy curse is real enough to be statistically significant, not just superstition. The Makar injury is a genuine unknown. Kadri's finger situation is a timing problem for a player who was supposed to bring postseason edge and depth to a lineup that needed it. And the Avalanche's recent playoff track record carries its own psychological weight — this roster has been here before and come up short.
The 2022 Cup run succeeded in part because the Avalanche were so deep that injuries couldn't derail them and because they had a Makar operating at full throttle for the whole run. If Makar returns healthy and at full capacity within the first round, Colorado's odds improve dramatically. If he misses time or returns compromised, this team faces a genuine path where talent alone may not be sufficient.
The most likely scenario: Colorado advances through the first two rounds, with the conference final representing the true test. That's where their regular-season credentials will either be validated or where the curse will claim another victim. The Avalanche are good enough to win the Cup. Whether they do will come down to health and the randomness that makes the NHL playoffs the most unpredictable championship format in professional sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Presidents' Trophies have the Colorado Avalanche won?
The 2026 Presidents' Trophy is the fourth in franchise history. The previous winners were the 1996-97, 2000-01, and 2020-21 Avalanche teams. The 2021 team notably went on to win the Stanley Cup the following season in 2022.
Is Cale Makar expected to play in the 2026 playoffs?
As of April 9, 2026, Makar's status is unclear. He suffered an upper body injury on March 30 and has not returned to the lineup. The Avalanche have not provided a specific timeline. Given the injury occurred 10 days before the playoffs begin, there is cautious optimism that he could be ready, but nothing has been confirmed.
What is Colorado's record for the 2025-26 NHL regular season?
The Avalanche finished with a 51-16-10 record, accumulating 112 points — the best record in the NHL and the basis for their Presidents' Trophy and No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
Why was Nazem Kadri re-acquired by Colorado?
Kadri, a fan favorite from Colorado's 2022 Stanley Cup run, was traded back to the Avalanche from the Calgary Flames on March 6, 2026 — a clear deadline move to add playoff experience and depth. He had scored nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) since returning before suffering a finger injury on or around April 9. Coach Jared Bednar confirmed the injury would not keep him out of the playoffs entirely.
When do the 2026 NHL playoffs begin?
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin approximately nine days from April 9, 2026 — placing the start date around April 18, 2026. Colorado's first-round opponent will be the No. 8 seed from the Western Conference.
Have the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup recently?
Yes. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022, their first championship since 2001. Since that title, they have made the playoffs each subsequent year but have not advanced past the second round. The 2026 postseason represents their best opportunity in that span to make a deep run.
Conclusion: The Trophy Is Won, the Test Begins
The Presidents' Trophy banner will hang at Ball Arena. The franchise record is secure. Nathan MacKinnon's place in Avalanche history grows with every point. Gabriel Landeskog's comeback story adds emotional resonance to what is already a compelling team narrative.
But the Avalanche and their fans know that regular-season hardware is not the hardware that matters. The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs will reveal whether this team — talented enough, experienced enough, and hungry enough — can finally translate dominant hockey into a second championship in the MacKinnon era. The injuries are the wild card. Health is the variable no coaching staff or front office can fully control.
What Colorado has going for them is the kind of core that wins championships: a generational center, a historically talented defenseman (when healthy), playoff-tested veterans, and a home crowd that will be as loud as any in the league. The Presidents' Trophy doesn't predict what comes next. But it does confirm that the Avalanche gave themselves every structural advantage available. Now they have to deliver on it.
