History of Colorado Avalanche in Timeline
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado. They compete in the NHL as part of the Central Division in the Western Conference. Their home arena is Ball Arena, which they share with the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Mammoth.
1937: Washington Redskins Championship
In 1937, the Washington Redskins won a championship a year after moving.
1968: Sakic Becomes Second-Oldest Player to Reach 100 Points
During the last game of the season in 2006, Joe Sakic scored a goal and two assists to become the second-oldest player in NHL history to reach 100 points at age 40, behind Gordie Howe who had 103 points in the 1968-69 season.
1972: Nordiques Join the WHA
In 1972, the Quebec Nordiques became one of the original teams in the World Hockey Association (WHA) when the league began play.
1972: Team Founded as Quebec Nordiques
In 1972, the Quebec Nordiques were founded as one of the charter franchises of the World Hockey Association (WHA).
1975: Avco World Trophy Finals Loss
In 1975, the Quebec Nordiques lost in the Avco World Trophy Finals.
1977: Avco World Trophy Win
In 1977, the Quebec Nordiques won the Avco World Trophy.
1979: Bourque Began his Career
In 1979, Ray Bourque began his career with the Bruins.
1979: Nordiques Enter NHL
In 1979, the Quebec Nordiques entered the NHL, along with the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, and Winnipeg Jets, as part of the NHL-WHA merger.
1981: Start of Postseason Streak
From 1981, the Nordiques began a streak of making the postseason for seven consecutive years.
1987: End of Postseason Streak
In 1987, the Nordiques' streak of making the postseason for seven consecutive years ended.
1988: Tied Best Postseason Record
In 2022, the Avalanche finished the postseason 16-4, which tied for the best postseason record since 1988
1989: Drafted Mats Sundin
In 1989, the Nordiques used their first overall draft pick to select Mats Sundin.
1990: Drafted Owen Nolan
In 1990, the Nordiques used their first overall draft pick to select Owen Nolan.
1991: Drafted Eric Lindros
In 1991, the Nordiques used their first overall draft pick to select Eric Lindros, who made it clear he did not want to play for the team.
June 30, 1992: Traded Eric Lindros
On June 30, 1992, Eric Lindros was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for five players, the rights to Peter Forsberg, two first-round draft picks, and US$15 million.
1994: Team Sold and Moved
Following the 1994-95 season, the Quebec Nordiques were sold to the COMSAT Entertainment Group.
May 1995: Agreement to Purchase Team
In May 1995, COMSAT announced an agreement in principle to purchase the Quebec Nordiques.
July 1, 1995: Purchase Deal Becomes Official
On July 1, 1995, the deal for COMSAT to purchase the Quebec Nordiques became official, leading to 12,000 season tickets being sold in the following 37 days.
October 6, 1995: First Game in Denver
On October 6, 1995, the Avalanche played their first game in Denver at the McNichols Sports Arena, winning 3–2 against the Detroit Red Wings, marking the return of the NHL to Denver after 13 years.
December 6, 1995: Patrick Roy Trade
On December 6, 1995, All-Star goaltender Patrick Roy and Mike Keane joined the Avalanche in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Rucinsky, and Andrei Kovalenko.
1995: Stanley Cup Championships
During the specified time frame, the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup championship in 1995-96.
1995: Original Road Jersey Design
From 1995, the Avalanche's road jersey was predominantly burgundy and steel blue with black and white zigzag lines, featuring the Avalanche logo in the center.
1995: Original Alternate Logo Debut
In 1995, the Avalanche's original alternate logo, the foot of a Yeti, was introduced and featured on the shoulders of their home and away jerseys.
1995: Playoffs
1995: Second "Reverse Retro" Inspiration
In the 2022-23 season, a second "Reverse Retro" uniform was unveiled, utilizing the 1995-2007 white uniform template but recolored to the blue, red, and gold colors of the Colorado state flag.
1996: Playoff Series Win
In 1995-96, the Avalanche won their playoff series against the Red Wings 4-2.
1996: Stanley Cup Champions
In 1996, during their first season in Denver, the Avalanche won the Pacific Division and swept the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Finals to win their first championship.
1996: Conference Finals and Kris Draper Incident
In 1996, the Colorado Avalanche met the Detroit Red Wings in the conference finals, winning 4-2. During Game 6, Kris Draper was checked into the boards by Claude Lemieux, leading to facial reconstructive surgery and marking the beginning of a heated rivalry.
March 26, 1997: Brawl in Hockeytown
On March 26, 1997, in the last regular-season meeting between the Avalanche and the Red Wings, a brawl known as the Brawl in Hockeytown broke out. The game featured numerous fights, goals, penalties, and a goaltender fight between Patrick Roy and Mike Vernon, with the Red Wings winning in overtime 6-5.
1997: Joe Sakic Offer Sheet
During the summer of 1997, Joe Sakic signed a three-year, $21 million offer sheet with the New York Rangers, which the Avalanche matched.
1997: Playoff Series Loss
In 1996-97, the Avalanche lost their playoff series against the Red Wings 4-2.
1997: Agreed to Sell Ascent
In 1997, COMSAT agreed in principle to sell Ascent to Liberty Media.
June 1998: Bob Hartley Hired
After Marc Crawford rejected a contract offer, Bob Hartley was hired as head coach in June 1998.
1998: Stanley Cup Championships
During the specified time frame, the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup championship in 1997-98.
1998: NHL Realigned Divisions
In 1998-99, with the addition of the Nashville Predators, the NHL realigned their divisions, moving the Avalanche to the new Northwest Division.
October 13, 1999: First Game at Pepsi Center
On October 13, 1999, the Colorado Avalanche played their first game in the new Pepsi Center, winning 2–1 against the Boston Bruins.
1999: Playoff Series Win
In 1998-99, the Avalanche won their playoff series against the Red Wings 4-2.
2000: Wayne Gretzky's Number Retired
At the 2000 NHL All-Star Game, the NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its member teams.
2000: Playoff Series Win
In 1999-2000, the Avalanche won their playoff series against the Red Wings 4-1.
2001: Stanley Cup Championships
During the specified time frame, the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup championship in 2000-01.
2002: Playoff Series Loss
In 2001-02, the Avalanche lost their playoff series against the Red Wings 4-3.
2003: NHL Switched Home and Road Jerseys
In 2003, the NHL switched home and road jerseys, with colors being worn at home and white jerseys on the road.
March 8, 2004: Todd Bertuzzi Punches Steve Moore
During a game on March 8, 2004, Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks punched the Avalanche's Steve Moore from behind, leaving Moore unconscious and ending his career due to fractured neck vertebrae. The incident led to a 17-month suspension for Bertuzzi and became a point of controversy.
July 2004: Joel Quenneville Hired as Head Coach
In July 2004, Joel Quenneville was hired as the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, replacing Tony Granato, who became Quenneville's assistant coach.
2004: Altitude Sports and Entertainment Broadcasts
Since 2004, Avalanche games have aired on Altitude Sports and Entertainment, replacing FSN Rocky Mountain.
April 7, 2006: Avalanche Eliminated From Playoff Contention
On April 7, 2006, the Avalanche were eliminated from playoff contention following a 4-2 loss against the Nashville Predators. Former Avalanche players Peter Forsberg and Paul Kariya contributed to the game-winning goal.
October 2006: Sports Illustrated Preview
Before the 2006-07 season, Sports Illustrated previewed that the Avalanche would finish 13th in the Western Conference.
October 16, 2006: Sell-Out Streak Ends
On October 16, 2006, the Colorado Avalanche's 11-year sell-out streak of 487 home games ended during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks. The sell-out streak was an all-time NHL record at the time.
April 9, 2007: Record Update
As of April 9, 2007, the listed records do not include those from the Quebec Nordiques.
September 12, 2007: Reebok EDGE Jersey Debut
On September 12, 2007, the Avalanche debuted their new version of the Reebok EDGE jerseys at a press conference. The design was similar to the previous jerseys, with some added piping.
2007: Third Jersey Discontinued
In 2007, the third jersey was not worn by the Avalanche after the NHL switched to the Reebok EDGE jerseys.
2007: Second "Reverse Retro" Inspiration
In the 2022-23 season, a second "Reverse Retro" uniform was unveiled, utilizing the 1995-2007 white uniform template but recolored to the blue, red, and gold colors of the Colorado state flag.
May 9, 2008: Joel Quenneville Fired
On May 9, 2008, the Avalanche announced that Joel Quenneville would not return to coach the team the following season, marking a change in leadership for the team.
2008: Playoff Series Loss
In 2008, the Red Wings swept the Avalanche in the conference semifinals.
2008: Third Jersey Not Worn
In the 2008-09 season, the third jersey was not worn by the Avalanche after the NHL switched to the Reebok EDGE jerseys.
April 13, 2009: Francois Giguere Relieved of GM Duties
On April 13, 2009, just one day after the end of the season, the Avalanche relieved Francois Giguere of his general manager duties after a disappointing season.
October 1, 2009: Joe Sakic's Jersey Retirement Ceremony
On October 1, 2009, Joe Sakic's jersey retirement ceremony took place before the season opener against the San Jose Sharks, celebrating his career with the Avalanche. The Avalanche won the game 5-2.
November 14, 2009: New Third Jersey Introduced
On November 14, 2009, the Avalanche introduced a new third jersey, primarily steel blue with burgundy patches on the shoulders, worn for the first time against the Vancouver Canucks.
September 4, 2012: Gabriel Landeskog Named Captain
On September 4, 2012, Gabriel Landeskog was named the fourth captain of the Avalanche. At 19 years, 286 days old, Landeskog became the youngest captain in NHL history at that time.
2013: Red Wings Move to Eastern Conference
In the 2013-14 season, the Red Wings moved to the Eastern Conference as part of the realignment.
2015: Alternate Uniforms Worn
For the 2018-19 season, the Avalanche wore their 2015-2017 navy uniforms as their alternates.
2015: Uniform Modifications and New Third Jersey
Prior to the 2015-16 season, the Avalanche replaced the yeti foot logo with the "C" logo and unveiled a new third jersey with navy as the dominant color and a recolored Rockies logo.
December 10, 2016: Avalanche Lose 10-1 to Canadiens
On December 10, 2016, the Avalanche suffered a significant defeat, allowing ten goals in a 10-1 loss to the Canadiens, marking a low point in the season.
2016: "C" Logo on Stadium Series Uniforms
In 2016, the "C" logo served as the main crest of the Avalanche's Stadium Series uniforms, which featured a white base, enlarged lettering, and steel blue, silver, and burgundy sleeve stripes.
November 5, 2017: Avalanche Trade Matt Duchene
On November 5, 2017, the Avalanche traded Matt Duchene to the Ottawa Senators in a three-team trade, acquiring Andrew Hammond, Shane Bowers, draft picks, and prospects Samuel Girard and Vladislav Kamenev.
November 18, 2018: Avalanche Earn 1,000th Win
On November 18, 2018, the Avalanche achieved their 1,000th win in team history by defeating the Ducks in overtime, marking a significant milestone.
2018: Alternate Uniforms Worn
For the 2018-19 season, the Avalanche wore their 2015-2017 navy uniforms as their alternates.
May 2, 2019: Agreement Reached to Keep Avalanche and Nuggets in Denver Until 2040
On May 2, 2019, the City of Denver and KSE reached an agreement to keep both the Avalanche and Nuggets in the city until 2040, securing the teams' presence in Denver for the long term.
2019: Trade with Toronto Maple Leafs
In 2019, during the off-season, the Avalanche traded Tyson Barrie, Alexander Kerfoot, and a sixth-round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen, and a third-round pick.
March 2020: Season Paused Due to COVID-19
In March 2020, the 2019-20 NHL season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Avalanche sitting second in their division.
2020: "Reverse Retro" Uniform Unveiled
Before the 2020-21 season, the Avalanche unveiled a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform taken from the Quebec Nordiques uniforms but recolored to match the Avalanche's current color scheme. They also revealed a new color scheme for their pants and helmets.
2020: Acquisition of Devon Toews and Playoff Run
Following the 2020 playoffs, the Avalanche acquired Devon Toews from the New York Islanders. They then finished the regular season with the Presidents' Trophy but experienced a second-round exit in the playoffs.
2020: "Division Rivalry Nights"
In the 2020-21 season, the Avalanche only wore navy uniforms against the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues during "Division Rivalry Nights."
October 2021: Penguins Break Sell-Out Streak Record
In October 2021, the Pittsburgh Penguins broke the Avalanche's record of consecutive sell-out games at home with 633 games.
2021: Trade of draft picks for Devon Toews
In 2021, the Avalanche sent second-round draft picks in both 2021 and 2022 to the New York Islanders in exchange for Devon Toews.
2021: "Division Rivalry Nights"
In the 2020-21 season, the Avalanche only wore navy uniforms against the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues during "Division Rivalry Nights."
June 26, 2022: Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
On June 26, 2022, the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to win their third Stanley Cup in franchise history. Cale Makar was named the Conn Smythe and Norris Memorial Trophy winner.
November 21, 2022: "Reverse Retro" Uniforms worn against Dallas Stars
On November 21, 2022, the Avalanche wore the "Reverse Retro" uniforms for a home game against the Dallas Stars as part of "Division Rivalry Nights."
2022: Third Stanley Cup Championship
In 2022, the Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games to win their third Stanley Cup championship.
2022: Trade of draft picks for Devon Toews
In 2022, the Avalanche sent second-round draft picks in both 2021 and 2022 to the New York Islanders in exchange for Devon Toews.
2022: Second "Reverse Retro" Uniform Unveiled
In the 2022-23 season, a second "Reverse Retro" uniform was unveiled, utilizing the 1995-2007 white uniform template but recolored to the blue, red, and gold colors of the Colorado state flag.
2024: Playoff Loss to Dallas Stars
In 2024, the Avalanche finished third in the Central Division, eliminated the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the playoffs, and then lost to the Dallas Stars in six games in the second round.
2025: Team to Stay in Denver Until At Least 2025
As part of the deal, Kroenke placed the teams into a trust that would ensure they stay in Denver until at least 2025.
