The Colorado Avalanche are a professional hockey team based in Denver, USA. Founded in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques, they play their home games at Ball Arena. They compete in the Central Division of the Western Conference in the NHL.
The Quebec Nordiques joined the NHL in 1979 after playing in the WHA. After the 1994-95 season, the franchise was sold and relocated to Denver, becoming the Avalanche. The team has won three Stanley Cups (1996, 2001, and 2022). After playing in McNichols Sports Arena from 1996 to 1999, they have been at Ball Arena since then.
Colorado won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2025-26 with 121 points before being swept by Vegas in the Western Conference Final, and Cale Makar signed the largest contract in NHL history in August 2026.
| Arena | Ball Arena, 17,809 |
|---|---|
| Conference | Western, Central Division |
| Stanley Cups | 3 — 1996, 2001, 2022 |
| 2025-26 | 55-16-11, Presidents’ Trophy; swept in the Conference Final |
| Head coach | Jared Bednar |
| Captain | Gabriel Landeskog |
| General manager | Joe Sakic, resumed the role in June 2026 |
