Colorado Avalanche Team History

The Colorado Avalanche franchise got its start in San Francisco and moved to Quebec in 1972. The Quebec Nordiques were a top World Hockey Association team before the league came to an end and the Quebec Nordiques joined the NHL in 1979.

In the 1980's the team was led by many hall of famers and almost hall of famers. This list includes Michael Goulet whose number has been retired and was a key member of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Stastny brothers who bribed their way out of Czechoslovakia.

In 1987 Joe Sakic was drafted and became captain in 1992 and still holds the position along with all the Colorado Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques scoring records. Struggling in 1991, the Quebec Nordiques drafted Eric Lindros who publicly told the press he would never play for the Quebec Nordiques. After a year of refusal to play, the Quebec Nordiques made a controversial trade of Eric Lindros. The New York Rangers had a trade inked by the Quebec Nordiques who had a verbal agreement with the Philadelphia Flyers. A trial ruled in favor of the Philadelphia Flyers. This fluke turned out to be one of the best trades in NHL history as Eric Lindros would later become a headache for GMs while the Quebec Nordiques got several players who became core members of the Colorado Avalanche including Peter Forsberg.

During the off season in 1995 the Quebec Nordiques were division champs but their financial situation forced a move to Denver where they became the Colorado Avalanche. With a new GM, the Colorado Avalanche immediately picked up some of the NHL's best players including Patrick Roy who was the key player of rival Montreal Canadiens. Led by new players and Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic, ranked fifth and third in league scoring, the Colorado Avalanche again won the division title and on to win the Colorado Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques' first Stanley Cup: a record for the first year of a team after relocation. In those playoffs the Colorado Avalanche had their first clash with the Detroit Red Wings and started one of the greatest rivalries in NHL history.

Over four years the Colorado Avalanche continued to win every conference title and made the conference finals in 1999. With Ray Bourque, 2001 was the second year that the Colorado Avalanche would win the Stanley Cup despite star Peter Forsberg nearly dying from a ruptured spleen following game seven of the conference finals.

The Colorado Avalanche struggled next season when Ray Bourque retired and Peter Forsberg sat out due to injuries. It came down to the end of the season, but the Colorado Avalanche still managed to win another division title that set a professional sports record for the most consecutive division titles. Peter Forsberg returned in the playoffs and became the undisputable best player in the NHL. The Colorado Avalanche struggled in 2002-03 and Patrick Roy had his first season without improving his stats in an eighteen year career and retired to be with his family while Peter Forsberg earned a Hart Trophy as league MVP. This was also the year that the Colorado Avalanche missed the division title by just one point leading to the firing of Coach Bob Hartley. Facing the shadow of Patrick Roy's retirement, long time backup David Aebischer stepped up and became one of the top goalies in the NHL as the Colorado Avalanche had another winning year last season.