EurolancheDavid
Registered User
The following stats concern the 57 European Colorado Avalanche players, who have played for the team between 1995 and 2017. The stats are only from the regular season and don’t include playoff stats.
Total of Avalanche wins: 845
Total of wins recorded by European goalies: 343
Percentage of wins recorded by Europeans: 40.6%
Number of scored goals: 4904
Number of goals scored by Europeans: 1288
Percentage of goals by Europeans: 26.3%
Overview of countries:
· Czech Republic 12
· Finland 10
· Russia 9
· Sweden 9
· Slovakia 3
· Switzerland 3
· Norway 3
· Latvia 2
· Lithuania
· Belarus
· Kazakhstan
· Germany
· Croatia
· Denmark
Total of Avalanche players: 287
Total of European Avalanche players: 57 (20%)
· Milan Hejduk leads the Avalanche in games played (1020)
· Hejduk was 16 goals shy of surpassing Joe Sakic as the player with the most goals scored in team history
· Hejduk scored the most power-play goals in team history (140)
· Hejduk scored the most game-winning goals in team history (59)
· Four Europeans rank among the top ten in scoring in Avalanche history (Hejduk, Forsberg, Landeskog, Kamensky)
1. Milan Hejduk - 1020 games, 805 points (375 goals, 430 assists)
A Stanley Cup Champion from 2001 and Olympic Gold-winner from 1998. Winner of the Rocket Richards Trophy for the league’s top goal scorer and the award for the league’s best plus-minus. He spent 15 seasons in Colorado, recording at least 40 points in 13 of them. His jersey will be deservedly retired this season and will hang from the rafters of the Pepsi Center. He spent his entire career in Denver, officially retiring in 2013.
2. Peter Forsberg - 544 games, 705 points (202 goals, 503 assists)
The best player of his generation and considered the most valuable player in Avalanche history by many. He won the Stanley Cup with Colorado twice, twice celebrated Olympic Gold with Sweden and twice won the World Championship. He won both the scoring title and was named the league’s MVP. Following the first lockout, he left Denver for Philadelphia and later played for Nashville. He twice returned to Colorado for a couple of games. His entire career was plagued by injuries, which ultimately forced him to retire in 2011. He was the assistant general manager of MoDo, which he co-owns, for five seasons.
3. Gabriel Landeskog - 428 games, 279 points (118 goals, 161 assists)
The current Avalanche captain. Former rookie of the year. World Champion with Sweden, who also owns a silver medal from the Olympics. A power forward, whose skill often goes underappreciated.
4. Valeri Kamensky - 289 games, 261 points (106 goals, 155 assists)
A three-times World Champion, who also once won the Stanley Cup with Colorado and once the Olympics with the former Soviet Union. A skilled sniper and integral part of the early Avs rosters. He continued his career with the Rangers, Stars and the Devils. After two season in the Russian league, he chose to retire in 2005. He briefly held managing positions in the KHL.
5. Sandis Ozolinsh - 333 games, 253 points (72 goals, 181 assists)
He spent six seasons in Denver and recorded at least 50 points for times. He won the Stanley Cup in 1996. The best offensive defenseman during the Avalanche’s early years. A key member of the team’s defense corps. He was traded to Carolina in 2000. He also played for Florida, Anaheim, the New York Rangers and San Jose. He spent the last five seasons of his career in the KHL, retiring in 2014. He had a head coaching gig in the KHL not long ago.
6. Marek Svatos – 316 games, 164 points (96 goals, 68 assists)
A rising star in Colorado between 2005 and 2010. His performances were described with superlatives at the time. He was a pure goal scorer, but his career was derailed by injuries. He briefly played for Ottawa and Nashville. He continued his career in the KHL and in the Slovak league, where he played until his retirement in 2014. He died of an overdose in 2016.
7. Martin Skoula - 383 games, 113 points (27 goals, 86 assists)
The Czech defenseman spent five seasons in Denver and won the Stanley Cup once. He also played for Anaheim, Dallas, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and New Jersey. He spent the latter years of his career in the KHL and the Czech league. He retired in 2015.
8. Alexei Gusarov - 383 games, 113 points (27 goals, 86 assists)
A prime example of Soviet hockey school. A shutdown defenseman, who helped the Avs win their first Cup. He also won several World Championships and the Olympics. Following nine years in Quebec and Colorado, he played a couple of games for the New York Rangers and St. Louis, where he retired in 2001. He’s currently an assistant coach in the KHL.
9. Carl Soderberg - 162 games, 65 points (18 goals, 47 assists)
The Swedish forward made the jump to the NHL in 2013 as a 28-year-old. He spent two seasons in Boston, following which he signed a four-year deal with Colorado. He’s currently performing below expectations and is often a subject of trade rumors. He won the last World Championship.
10. Radim Vrbata - 118 games, 60 points (29 goals, 31 assists)
He was supposed to be the next Hejduk, but was traded to Carolina less than two years after being drafted. He also played for Chicago, Tampa Bay, Phoenix/Arizona and Vancouver. He’s currently a member of the Florida Panthers. He won the World Championship once. He didn’t have enough time to showcase his skill in Denver, later becoming one of the more consistent scorers in the league.
11. Jan Hejda - 286 games, 59 points (13 goals, 46 assists)
The Czech defenseman got into the NHL as a 28-year-old. Following a year in Edmonton, he spent the next four season in Columbus and the four seasons afterwards in Colorado. He was a consistently solid shutdown defenseman and was a great role model for younger players. A lot of fans considered his departure from Denver as premature, as a similar type of player was lacking on the roster during following seasons. He played a couple of games in the AHL before retiring in 2015. He won the World Championship once.
12. Uwe Krupp - 144 games, 55 points (13 goals, 42 assists)
The scorer of the Cup-clinching goal in 1996. A dependable defenseman. He also played for Buffalo, the New York Islanders, Detroit and Atlanta. He considerably contributed to the growing popularity of the NHL in Germany and opened the way for his countrymen to the league. He’s currently a head coach. He retired in 2002.
13. Mikhail Grigorenko - 149 games, 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists)
Came to Colorado as part of the O’Reilly deal. He was supposed to be a promising offensive prospect, but bolted to the KHL after two seasons in Colorado as an unwanted player, who had attitude and work ethic issues.
14. Ville Nieminen - 104 games, 46 points (24 goals, 22 assists)
A power forward, whose goals in key games helped the team win the Cup in 2001. After being traded away, he continued his career in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Calgary, the New York Rangers, San Jose and St. Louis. He spent the last eight years of his career in Finland and in the KHL before retiring in 2015. He was known to have a great character. He still works in the business of hockey in his homeland.
15. Karlis Skrastins - 275 games, 42 points (9 goals, 33 assists)
He played 495 games in row, which set a modern NHL record among defensemen. He arrived in Colorado from Nashville and immediately established himself as one of the toughest players on the team. The Avs traded him after three seasons to Florida and he also spent two years in Dallas. He opted to go to the KHL in 2011, a decision which proved fateful. He died in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash in 2011.
16. Mikko Rantanen - 84 games, 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists)
A current member of the Avs, drafted two years ago. He began his career in his native Finland. The team expects a lot from him and the coaches consistently play him on the top lines.
17. Antti Laaksonen - 122 games, 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists)
He played for Minnesota and Boston before spending a year and half in Colorado. He graduated from the University in Denver. He made a great impression during his first season in Denver, but wasn’t as successful the following season, falling out of favor and being demoted to the AHL. He spent the last three years of his career in Europe before ultimately retiring in 2010.
18. Ruslan Salei - 101 games, 34 points (8 goals, 26 assists)
Belarus’ most talented hockey player. He began his NHL career in the mid-90’s, spending his first decade overseas in Anaheim. He played the next two seasons in Florida and then spent two seasons in Denver. He was injured during the majority of his stay with Colorado. His NHL career continued in Detroit. Like Skrastins, he also went to the KHL in 2011. He died in the Lokomotiv Yaroslav plane crash the same year.
19. Teemu Selanne - 78 games, 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists)
The Finnish legend had the worst season of his career in Colorado. He signed with the Avalanche prior to the 2003-04 season together with his longtime teammate Paul Kariya. Both failed to live up to expectations, with Selanne even being a healthy scratch on several occasions. His Avalanche tenure was a far cry from his successful seasons in Winnipeg, San Jose and Anaheim, where he spent 15 years. He recorded 132 points as a rookie during the 1992-93 season. He won the Stanley Cup once, along with a number of individual awards. He was a team consultant for Finland during last year’s World Cup.
20. Jaroslav Hlinka - 63 games, 28 points (8 goals, 20 assists)
One of the many European experiments of Colorado. He came to the NHL as a 31-year-old. He only played a single season in Denver, after which he returned to Europe, where he still plays for Sparta Prague. He won the World Championship once. He hails from a well-known hockey family.
21. Andrei Kovalenko - 26 games, 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists)
Another Russian brought over back when the team was still in Quebec. He was traded to Montreal during the inaugural season in Denver. He later played for Edmonton, Philadelphia, Carolina and Boston. He spent the following seven seasons in the Russian league, where he retired in 2008. He consistently put up good numbers.
22. Jari Kurri - 70 games, 22 points (5 goals, 17 assists)
Another Finnish legend and experiment by the Avalanche. A five-times Stanley Cup Champion with Edmonton. He also played for LA, the New York Rangers and Anaheim. He came to Denver as a 38-year-old and officially retired after a mediocre season in 1998. He currently fills in top managerial roles in Finland.
23. Tomas Fleischmann - 22 games, 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists)
The talented Czech forward spent almost six seasons in Washington, once putting up more than 51 points. He came to Colorado prior to the trade deadline. He made a good impression and was expected to re-sign with the team, but ultimately didn’t. The Avs gave him up for free due to problems stemming from a blood clot. Despite his condition, Tomas played five more seasons for Florida, Anaheim, Montreal and Chicago. He retired as a 32-year-old in 2016 probably due to health problems.
24. Andreas Martinsen – 110 games, 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists)
The skilled Norwegian third-liner got his first shot in the NHL with Colorado as a 25-year-old. He was traded after less than two years to Montreal for Andrighetto, who has been great for Colorado. Martinsen currently plays in the AHL.
25. Sven Andrighetto - 19 games, 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists)
He spent three years in Montreal, where he rose through the ranks from the juniors. He scored 28 points during those three seasons and is currently on pace to surpass his previous career high in Colorado. He’s been fantastic since coming over to Colorado.
26. Martin Rucinsky - 22 games, 15 points (4 goals, 11 assists)
His NHL journey began in Edmonton, where he played two games. He spent the next four years in Quebec, beginning the fifth one in Colorado, later becoming part of the trade package for Roy and Keane after 22 games. He played seasons for Montreal, later continuing his career with Dallas, the Rangers, St. Louis and Vancouver. It’s worth noting that he returned to the Rangers twice and once to the Blues. He retired in 2015 after seven seasons in the Czech league. He once won both the Olympics and the World Championship.
27. Vaclav Nedorost - 67 games, 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists)
Another Czech youngster drafted by the Avs at the turn of the millennium. He had a tough time making Colorado’s star-studded roster. His career was marred by injury right from the beginning. He was traded to Floride after a year and a half, where his NHL career soon came to an end. Since 2004, he played in the Czech league and in the KHL. He currently plays in the second-tier Czech league. Eurolanche did an interview with him as part of the article about the Avalanche’s training camp in Stockholm in 2001.
28. Riku Hahl - 92 games, 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists)
He came to the NHL as a 21-year-old, playing three seasons for Colorado. He was mostly subpar. He also appeared at the World Cup in 2004. He spent the rest of his career in Europe and in the KHL, retiring in 2016.
29. Andrei Nikolishin - 49 games, 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists)
He played back when the Hartford Whalers were still an NHL franchise. After six seasons in Washington and one in Chicago, he came to Colorado, but didn’t impress. Between 2004 and 2012, he played in the Russian league and in the KHL, but played his final season in Ukraine. He was later a head coach in the KHL. He won the World Championship once.
30. Mikkel Boedker - 18 games, 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists)
A similar case as Fleischmann – he also arrived in Denver prior to the trade deadline, put up solid numbers, but opted not to re-sign with the team. Rumor has it he fell out with then-head coach Roy. He spent the majority of his career in Arizona and has played the last two seasons in San Jose, where he’s currently just a bottom-line forward.
31. Dennis Everberg - 70 games, 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists)
He rose to prominence in Europe, then spent two years going back and forth between the NHL and AHL. Despite his potential as a power forward, Colorado didn’t give him another chance and he refused to play in the AHL. He currently plays in the KHL.
32. Ossi Vaananen - 139 games, 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists)
The Finnish defenseman began his NHL career with four seasons in Phoenix. He didn’t impress during his two and a half year stay in Denver. He continued his career in Philadelphia and Vancouver, where he finished after a single season. He spent the last seven years of his career in the KHL, mostly serving as the captain of Jokerit, where he retired in 2015.
33. Nikita Zadorov - 78 games, 12 points (0 goals, 12 assists)
Also a part of the O’Reilly trade, considered a top defensive prospect at the time. He’s still undoubtedly talented, often showing flashes of defensive brilliance. Attitude problems and work ethic issues have since surfaced, something pretty common among some Russian hockey players. It’s entirely up to him which path his career will go. This could very well be his last season in North America.
34. Josef Marha - 19 games, 9 points (2 goals, 7 assists)
He was drafted as an 18-year-old by Quebec. He played three seasons for Colorado, mostly spending time in the AHL. He appeared in two games during the Championship season. He also played for Anaheim and Chicago, but never earned a permanent spot in the NHL. He permanently returned to Europe in 2001, where he retired after 13 years. He currently coaches youth hockey players.
35. Jonas Holos - 39 games, 6 points (0 goals, 6 assists)
This Norwegian defense prospect rose to prominence during the World Championship. He earned a shot with Colorado as a 23-year-old, the season being his only one in Denver. He refused to play in the AHL, just like a lot of Europeans do, and opted to return to Europe. He currently plays in the Swiss league.
36. Joakim Lindstrom - 16 games, 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists)
He came to Colorado after four season in Columbus and Phoenix. The team demoted him after 16 games and he returned to Europe, where he played for two seasons. He chose to sign with St. Louis as a free agent, but once again returned back home after a couple of games. He currently plays in Finland.
37. Daniel Tjarnqvist - 37 games, 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists)
The Swedish defenseman got to Colorado after stints with Atlanta, Minnesota and Edmonton. He also played a season in the KHL before coming to Denver. He didn’t impress, returned to Europe and retired in 2015 while playing in the German league. He won Olympic Gold.
38. David Koci - 78 games, 2 points (2 goals, 0 assists)
The Czech enforcer broke into the NHL with Chicago. After two seasons in the Windy City, he played for Tampa Bay and St. Louis. In two seasons in Colorado, he amassed 164 penalty minutes and scored two of his three career goals. He played the following three seasons for Sparta Prague and retired in 2014. He currently coaches youth hockey. Although he was known as an enforcer, he is very intelligent and goes against all stereotypes enforcers are known for.
39. Borna Rendulic - 14 games, 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist)
The first Croatian-born NHL player, who earned his shot in the league at 24. After two seasons playing mostly in the AHL, he left for Vancouver after some criticism of the Avalanche’s farm system. He only appeared in one game for the Canucks. He currently plays in the KHL.
40. Tomas Vincour - 9 games, 2 points (0 goals, 2 assists)
He spent three years in the Juniors and the next three in Dallas. After two games for Colorado, he continued his career in the KHL. He returned to Denver after a year in Russia, but failed to make an impression. Since 2015, he plays back in Europe, currently playing in the Czech league.
41. Janne Laukkanen - 3 games, 1 point (1 goal, 0 assist)
Drafted by Quebec, he played three games for the Avalanche during their inaugural season. He was then traded to Ottawa, where he spent five seasons. He also later played for Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. He’s currently a manager in the Finnish league.
42. Anders Myrvold - 4 games, 1 point (0 goals, 1 assist)
The first Norwegian to don an Avalanche jersey. He was drafted back when the team was still playing in Quebec. He spent the majority of his career in Europe, twice attempting an NHL comeback, playing for Boston, the New York Islanders and Detroit. It always sooner or later resulted in an AHL demotion. He played in Norway since 2004. He also appeared in one game in the Norwegian league, despite already being 42 years old.
43. Per Ledin - 3 games, 0 points
The though Swede is included in the same category of Europeans, who played his only NHL games in Colorado. He played the last three games of the 2008-09 season in Denver. He spent the remainder of his tenure there in the AHL, openly criticizing the team’s management following his departure. He played the last season in Switzerland.
44. Mikhail Kuleshov - 3 games, 0 points
Colorado drafted him in 1999 25th overall. After three games for the first team and three seasons in the AHL, his career went downhill. He then played in the Russian and Belarussian league, also playing in the second-tier league in Belarus. He retired under unclear circumstances as a 25-year-old in 2006.
45. Jaroslav Obsut - 3 games, 0 points
The Slovak defenseman played 10 years in various North American leagues. He played three games for Colorado and four for St. Louis, which were the last games of his NHL career. He’s played in Europe since 2004, currently playing for Slovan Bratislava of the KHL.
46. Yuri Babenko - 3 games, 0 points
He was a second-round pick of the Avs. After three games and three seasons in the AHL, like Kuleshov, he returned to Europe, where he played in the Russian league and later in the KHL from 2002 until 2016. He was the captain of Dynamo Moscow during the last three seasons of his career. He won the KHL twice.
47. Darius Kasparaitis - 11 games, 0 points
The Lithuanian-born defenseman became well-known for his though style of play since beginning his NHL career in 1992. He played for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh being traded to Colorado, where he played 11 games. He finished his NHL career as an alternate captain of the New York Rangers. Between 2007 and 2010, he played in the Russian league and the KHL. He took a three-year hiatus from hockey, resuming his career in his native Lithuania, where he played the last four season, but only played sporadically at the age of 45.
48. Anton Lindholm - 12 games, 0 points
Colorado choose the Swedish hockey product in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He earned his spot on the roster after playing for the team’s AHL affiliate last year. He’s currently a permanent fixture on the team’s roster and ranks among one of the more pleasant surprises of this season.
49. Sami Helenius - 33 games, 0 points
Since 1994, he played mostly in the AHL. He had brief stints in the NHL with Calgary and Tampa Bay. He played a number of games for Colorado during the 1999-2000 season, suiting up for a total of 33 games without recording a point. He played the following three years in Dallas and briefly in Chicago. Between 2003 and 2010, he played in Finland, serving as captain during one season before retiring.
1. Semyon Varlamov - 289 games, 139 wins
The Russian goalie was drafted by Washington back in 2006. He came over to the NHL from Russia in 2008, playing three seasons for the Capitals. He was consequently traded to the Avalanche in exchange for two high draft picks. This season is his seventh in Denver. He’s consistently put up good numbers, despite a number of injuries and stretches of mediocre performances. He won the World Championship once.
2. Peter Budaj - 242 games, 101 wins
The Slovak goalie was drafted by the Avs in 2001. He spent three years in the Juniors, coming over to North America in 1999. He spent the following three seasons in the AHL. He earned a spot in the NHL in 2005 and played six seasons for Colorado. His Avalanche tenure was a rollercoaster, stretches of good performances were followed by stretches of subpar games. Nonetheless, he made a good impression.
3. David Aebischer - 174 games, 89 wins
The Swiss goalie had a tough time earning playing time with Patrick Roy still on the team. He made it to the NHL after three seasons in the minors, opting to play in the AHL instead of staying in Switzerland. He was a permanent fixture on the first team’s rosters between 2000 and 2005, serving as the team’s starter during the latter two years. His trade for Montreal’s Jose Theodore is still criticized by many, as a lot of fans think that he never got a real chance to prove himself. Ever since his trade, his career went downhill. He later played on game for Phoenix, which proved to be his last game in the NHL. He played in his native Switzerland between 2007 and 2015, while also spending on season in the AHL in an attempt to make a return to the NHL. He won the Stanley Cup in 2001. Since 2014, he works as a goalie coach.
4. Reto Berra - 35 games, 10 wins
Another Swiss goalie who impressed at international tournaments. His performances earned him a contract with Calgary in 2013. After less than 30 games, he was traded to Colorado. He played two seasons in Denver, posting horrible numbers. He also had brief stints in the AHL. He later signed for Florida, but was demoted to the minors once again. He currently plays for Anaheim.
5. Vitaly Kolesnik - 8 games, 3 wins
The Kazakh goalie only played eight games in the NHL during the 2005-06 season. Afterwards, he only played in the AHL before opting to sign in the KHL, where he won a league championship and has been a permanent fixture on the Kazakh national team. It seems that last season was his last.
6. Tommy Salo - 5 games, 1 win
Colorado was the last stop in the NHL for the Swedish goalie, who is mostly known for the infamous goal he allowed against Belarus at the 2002 Olympics. Before coming to Denver, he played for the New York Islanders, the Denver Grizzlies in the now-defunct IHL and in Edmonton, beginning his career in North America in 1994. After his stint in Denver, he played three season in Sweden, after which chose to retire. Until 2015, he held various positions for a number of hockey teams.
7. Sami Aittokallio - 2 games, 1 loss a 1 game without a statistical entry
The Finn began his career in his homeland and was regarded as a solid goalie prospect in the Avalanche organization. He played in the minors between 2012 and 2014. He played for the Avalanche twice. During one of those games, he fainted due to dehydration and hasn’t played in an NHL game ever since. After two seasons in Finland, he signed for Sparta Prague and has been a member of the team ever since.
8. Roman Will - 1 game without a statistical entry
The Czech goalie came over to North America in 2014. He spent a season in the AHL before earning a call-up to the first team, but only played a couple of minutes in his NHL debut. He’s spent the last two seasons in the Czech league.
The following two players weren’t included in the ranking, as they became members of the Avalanche prior to this season. Andrei Mironov became the 58th and Nail Yakupov the 59thEuropean player to don an Avalanche jersey. Yakupov spent his junior career in Canada before being drafted first overall in 2012. After four mediocre seasons in Edmonton, he was traded to St. Louis but wasn’t very successful during his sole season for the Blues. His stint with the Avalanche is most likely his last chance in the NHL. Mironov has played the past five seasons in the KHL, where he made his name as a solid shutdown defenseman. He played two games for the Avalanche, who drafted him in 2015, by the time this articles was published.
EDIT: Swedish defenseman Patrik Nemeth became the 60th European Avalanche player after being claimed off waivers from Dallas. He has since played 12 games for Colorado, recording 6 points (a goal and 5 assists).
Total of Avalanche wins: 845
Total of wins recorded by European goalies: 343
Percentage of wins recorded by Europeans: 40.6%
Number of scored goals: 4904
Number of goals scored by Europeans: 1288
Percentage of goals by Europeans: 26.3%
Overview of countries:
· Czech Republic 12
· Finland 10
· Russia 9
· Sweden 9
· Slovakia 3
· Switzerland 3
· Norway 3
· Latvia 2
· Lithuania
· Belarus
· Kazakhstan
· Germany
· Croatia
· Denmark
Total of Avalanche players: 287
Total of European Avalanche players: 57 (20%)
· Milan Hejduk leads the Avalanche in games played (1020)
· Hejduk was 16 goals shy of surpassing Joe Sakic as the player with the most goals scored in team history
· Hejduk scored the most power-play goals in team history (140)
· Hejduk scored the most game-winning goals in team history (59)
· Four Europeans rank among the top ten in scoring in Avalanche history (Hejduk, Forsberg, Landeskog, Kamensky)
1. Milan Hejduk - 1020 games, 805 points (375 goals, 430 assists)
A Stanley Cup Champion from 2001 and Olympic Gold-winner from 1998. Winner of the Rocket Richards Trophy for the league’s top goal scorer and the award for the league’s best plus-minus. He spent 15 seasons in Colorado, recording at least 40 points in 13 of them. His jersey will be deservedly retired this season and will hang from the rafters of the Pepsi Center. He spent his entire career in Denver, officially retiring in 2013.
2. Peter Forsberg - 544 games, 705 points (202 goals, 503 assists)
The best player of his generation and considered the most valuable player in Avalanche history by many. He won the Stanley Cup with Colorado twice, twice celebrated Olympic Gold with Sweden and twice won the World Championship. He won both the scoring title and was named the league’s MVP. Following the first lockout, he left Denver for Philadelphia and later played for Nashville. He twice returned to Colorado for a couple of games. His entire career was plagued by injuries, which ultimately forced him to retire in 2011. He was the assistant general manager of MoDo, which he co-owns, for five seasons.
3. Gabriel Landeskog - 428 games, 279 points (118 goals, 161 assists)
The current Avalanche captain. Former rookie of the year. World Champion with Sweden, who also owns a silver medal from the Olympics. A power forward, whose skill often goes underappreciated.
4. Valeri Kamensky - 289 games, 261 points (106 goals, 155 assists)
A three-times World Champion, who also once won the Stanley Cup with Colorado and once the Olympics with the former Soviet Union. A skilled sniper and integral part of the early Avs rosters. He continued his career with the Rangers, Stars and the Devils. After two season in the Russian league, he chose to retire in 2005. He briefly held managing positions in the KHL.
5. Sandis Ozolinsh - 333 games, 253 points (72 goals, 181 assists)
He spent six seasons in Denver and recorded at least 50 points for times. He won the Stanley Cup in 1996. The best offensive defenseman during the Avalanche’s early years. A key member of the team’s defense corps. He was traded to Carolina in 2000. He also played for Florida, Anaheim, the New York Rangers and San Jose. He spent the last five seasons of his career in the KHL, retiring in 2014. He had a head coaching gig in the KHL not long ago.
6. Marek Svatos – 316 games, 164 points (96 goals, 68 assists)
A rising star in Colorado between 2005 and 2010. His performances were described with superlatives at the time. He was a pure goal scorer, but his career was derailed by injuries. He briefly played for Ottawa and Nashville. He continued his career in the KHL and in the Slovak league, where he played until his retirement in 2014. He died of an overdose in 2016.
7. Martin Skoula - 383 games, 113 points (27 goals, 86 assists)
The Czech defenseman spent five seasons in Denver and won the Stanley Cup once. He also played for Anaheim, Dallas, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and New Jersey. He spent the latter years of his career in the KHL and the Czech league. He retired in 2015.
8. Alexei Gusarov - 383 games, 113 points (27 goals, 86 assists)
A prime example of Soviet hockey school. A shutdown defenseman, who helped the Avs win their first Cup. He also won several World Championships and the Olympics. Following nine years in Quebec and Colorado, he played a couple of games for the New York Rangers and St. Louis, where he retired in 2001. He’s currently an assistant coach in the KHL.
9. Carl Soderberg - 162 games, 65 points (18 goals, 47 assists)
The Swedish forward made the jump to the NHL in 2013 as a 28-year-old. He spent two seasons in Boston, following which he signed a four-year deal with Colorado. He’s currently performing below expectations and is often a subject of trade rumors. He won the last World Championship.
10. Radim Vrbata - 118 games, 60 points (29 goals, 31 assists)
He was supposed to be the next Hejduk, but was traded to Carolina less than two years after being drafted. He also played for Chicago, Tampa Bay, Phoenix/Arizona and Vancouver. He’s currently a member of the Florida Panthers. He won the World Championship once. He didn’t have enough time to showcase his skill in Denver, later becoming one of the more consistent scorers in the league.
11. Jan Hejda - 286 games, 59 points (13 goals, 46 assists)
The Czech defenseman got into the NHL as a 28-year-old. Following a year in Edmonton, he spent the next four season in Columbus and the four seasons afterwards in Colorado. He was a consistently solid shutdown defenseman and was a great role model for younger players. A lot of fans considered his departure from Denver as premature, as a similar type of player was lacking on the roster during following seasons. He played a couple of games in the AHL before retiring in 2015. He won the World Championship once.
12. Uwe Krupp - 144 games, 55 points (13 goals, 42 assists)
The scorer of the Cup-clinching goal in 1996. A dependable defenseman. He also played for Buffalo, the New York Islanders, Detroit and Atlanta. He considerably contributed to the growing popularity of the NHL in Germany and opened the way for his countrymen to the league. He’s currently a head coach. He retired in 2002.
13. Mikhail Grigorenko - 149 games, 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists)
Came to Colorado as part of the O’Reilly deal. He was supposed to be a promising offensive prospect, but bolted to the KHL after two seasons in Colorado as an unwanted player, who had attitude and work ethic issues.
14. Ville Nieminen - 104 games, 46 points (24 goals, 22 assists)
A power forward, whose goals in key games helped the team win the Cup in 2001. After being traded away, he continued his career in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Calgary, the New York Rangers, San Jose and St. Louis. He spent the last eight years of his career in Finland and in the KHL before retiring in 2015. He was known to have a great character. He still works in the business of hockey in his homeland.
15. Karlis Skrastins - 275 games, 42 points (9 goals, 33 assists)
He played 495 games in row, which set a modern NHL record among defensemen. He arrived in Colorado from Nashville and immediately established himself as one of the toughest players on the team. The Avs traded him after three seasons to Florida and he also spent two years in Dallas. He opted to go to the KHL in 2011, a decision which proved fateful. He died in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash in 2011.
16. Mikko Rantanen - 84 games, 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists)
A current member of the Avs, drafted two years ago. He began his career in his native Finland. The team expects a lot from him and the coaches consistently play him on the top lines.
17. Antti Laaksonen - 122 games, 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists)
He played for Minnesota and Boston before spending a year and half in Colorado. He graduated from the University in Denver. He made a great impression during his first season in Denver, but wasn’t as successful the following season, falling out of favor and being demoted to the AHL. He spent the last three years of his career in Europe before ultimately retiring in 2010.
18. Ruslan Salei - 101 games, 34 points (8 goals, 26 assists)
Belarus’ most talented hockey player. He began his NHL career in the mid-90’s, spending his first decade overseas in Anaheim. He played the next two seasons in Florida and then spent two seasons in Denver. He was injured during the majority of his stay with Colorado. His NHL career continued in Detroit. Like Skrastins, he also went to the KHL in 2011. He died in the Lokomotiv Yaroslav plane crash the same year.
19. Teemu Selanne - 78 games, 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists)
The Finnish legend had the worst season of his career in Colorado. He signed with the Avalanche prior to the 2003-04 season together with his longtime teammate Paul Kariya. Both failed to live up to expectations, with Selanne even being a healthy scratch on several occasions. His Avalanche tenure was a far cry from his successful seasons in Winnipeg, San Jose and Anaheim, where he spent 15 years. He recorded 132 points as a rookie during the 1992-93 season. He won the Stanley Cup once, along with a number of individual awards. He was a team consultant for Finland during last year’s World Cup.
20. Jaroslav Hlinka - 63 games, 28 points (8 goals, 20 assists)
One of the many European experiments of Colorado. He came to the NHL as a 31-year-old. He only played a single season in Denver, after which he returned to Europe, where he still plays for Sparta Prague. He won the World Championship once. He hails from a well-known hockey family.
21. Andrei Kovalenko - 26 games, 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists)
Another Russian brought over back when the team was still in Quebec. He was traded to Montreal during the inaugural season in Denver. He later played for Edmonton, Philadelphia, Carolina and Boston. He spent the following seven seasons in the Russian league, where he retired in 2008. He consistently put up good numbers.
22. Jari Kurri - 70 games, 22 points (5 goals, 17 assists)
Another Finnish legend and experiment by the Avalanche. A five-times Stanley Cup Champion with Edmonton. He also played for LA, the New York Rangers and Anaheim. He came to Denver as a 38-year-old and officially retired after a mediocre season in 1998. He currently fills in top managerial roles in Finland.
23. Tomas Fleischmann - 22 games, 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists)
The talented Czech forward spent almost six seasons in Washington, once putting up more than 51 points. He came to Colorado prior to the trade deadline. He made a good impression and was expected to re-sign with the team, but ultimately didn’t. The Avs gave him up for free due to problems stemming from a blood clot. Despite his condition, Tomas played five more seasons for Florida, Anaheim, Montreal and Chicago. He retired as a 32-year-old in 2016 probably due to health problems.
24. Andreas Martinsen – 110 games, 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists)
The skilled Norwegian third-liner got his first shot in the NHL with Colorado as a 25-year-old. He was traded after less than two years to Montreal for Andrighetto, who has been great for Colorado. Martinsen currently plays in the AHL.
25. Sven Andrighetto - 19 games, 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists)
He spent three years in Montreal, where he rose through the ranks from the juniors. He scored 28 points during those three seasons and is currently on pace to surpass his previous career high in Colorado. He’s been fantastic since coming over to Colorado.
26. Martin Rucinsky - 22 games, 15 points (4 goals, 11 assists)
His NHL journey began in Edmonton, where he played two games. He spent the next four years in Quebec, beginning the fifth one in Colorado, later becoming part of the trade package for Roy and Keane after 22 games. He played seasons for Montreal, later continuing his career with Dallas, the Rangers, St. Louis and Vancouver. It’s worth noting that he returned to the Rangers twice and once to the Blues. He retired in 2015 after seven seasons in the Czech league. He once won both the Olympics and the World Championship.
27. Vaclav Nedorost - 67 games, 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists)
Another Czech youngster drafted by the Avs at the turn of the millennium. He had a tough time making Colorado’s star-studded roster. His career was marred by injury right from the beginning. He was traded to Floride after a year and a half, where his NHL career soon came to an end. Since 2004, he played in the Czech league and in the KHL. He currently plays in the second-tier Czech league. Eurolanche did an interview with him as part of the article about the Avalanche’s training camp in Stockholm in 2001.
28. Riku Hahl - 92 games, 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists)
He came to the NHL as a 21-year-old, playing three seasons for Colorado. He was mostly subpar. He also appeared at the World Cup in 2004. He spent the rest of his career in Europe and in the KHL, retiring in 2016.
29. Andrei Nikolishin - 49 games, 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists)
He played back when the Hartford Whalers were still an NHL franchise. After six seasons in Washington and one in Chicago, he came to Colorado, but didn’t impress. Between 2004 and 2012, he played in the Russian league and in the KHL, but played his final season in Ukraine. He was later a head coach in the KHL. He won the World Championship once.
30. Mikkel Boedker - 18 games, 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists)
A similar case as Fleischmann – he also arrived in Denver prior to the trade deadline, put up solid numbers, but opted not to re-sign with the team. Rumor has it he fell out with then-head coach Roy. He spent the majority of his career in Arizona and has played the last two seasons in San Jose, where he’s currently just a bottom-line forward.
31. Dennis Everberg - 70 games, 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists)
He rose to prominence in Europe, then spent two years going back and forth between the NHL and AHL. Despite his potential as a power forward, Colorado didn’t give him another chance and he refused to play in the AHL. He currently plays in the KHL.
32. Ossi Vaananen - 139 games, 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists)
The Finnish defenseman began his NHL career with four seasons in Phoenix. He didn’t impress during his two and a half year stay in Denver. He continued his career in Philadelphia and Vancouver, where he finished after a single season. He spent the last seven years of his career in the KHL, mostly serving as the captain of Jokerit, where he retired in 2015.
33. Nikita Zadorov - 78 games, 12 points (0 goals, 12 assists)
Also a part of the O’Reilly trade, considered a top defensive prospect at the time. He’s still undoubtedly talented, often showing flashes of defensive brilliance. Attitude problems and work ethic issues have since surfaced, something pretty common among some Russian hockey players. It’s entirely up to him which path his career will go. This could very well be his last season in North America.
34. Josef Marha - 19 games, 9 points (2 goals, 7 assists)
He was drafted as an 18-year-old by Quebec. He played three seasons for Colorado, mostly spending time in the AHL. He appeared in two games during the Championship season. He also played for Anaheim and Chicago, but never earned a permanent spot in the NHL. He permanently returned to Europe in 2001, where he retired after 13 years. He currently coaches youth hockey players.
35. Jonas Holos - 39 games, 6 points (0 goals, 6 assists)
This Norwegian defense prospect rose to prominence during the World Championship. He earned a shot with Colorado as a 23-year-old, the season being his only one in Denver. He refused to play in the AHL, just like a lot of Europeans do, and opted to return to Europe. He currently plays in the Swiss league.
36. Joakim Lindstrom - 16 games, 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists)
He came to Colorado after four season in Columbus and Phoenix. The team demoted him after 16 games and he returned to Europe, where he played for two seasons. He chose to sign with St. Louis as a free agent, but once again returned back home after a couple of games. He currently plays in Finland.
37. Daniel Tjarnqvist - 37 games, 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists)
The Swedish defenseman got to Colorado after stints with Atlanta, Minnesota and Edmonton. He also played a season in the KHL before coming to Denver. He didn’t impress, returned to Europe and retired in 2015 while playing in the German league. He won Olympic Gold.
38. David Koci - 78 games, 2 points (2 goals, 0 assists)
The Czech enforcer broke into the NHL with Chicago. After two seasons in the Windy City, he played for Tampa Bay and St. Louis. In two seasons in Colorado, he amassed 164 penalty minutes and scored two of his three career goals. He played the following three seasons for Sparta Prague and retired in 2014. He currently coaches youth hockey. Although he was known as an enforcer, he is very intelligent and goes against all stereotypes enforcers are known for.
39. Borna Rendulic - 14 games, 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist)
The first Croatian-born NHL player, who earned his shot in the league at 24. After two seasons playing mostly in the AHL, he left for Vancouver after some criticism of the Avalanche’s farm system. He only appeared in one game for the Canucks. He currently plays in the KHL.
40. Tomas Vincour - 9 games, 2 points (0 goals, 2 assists)
He spent three years in the Juniors and the next three in Dallas. After two games for Colorado, he continued his career in the KHL. He returned to Denver after a year in Russia, but failed to make an impression. Since 2015, he plays back in Europe, currently playing in the Czech league.
41. Janne Laukkanen - 3 games, 1 point (1 goal, 0 assist)
Drafted by Quebec, he played three games for the Avalanche during their inaugural season. He was then traded to Ottawa, where he spent five seasons. He also later played for Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. He’s currently a manager in the Finnish league.
42. Anders Myrvold - 4 games, 1 point (0 goals, 1 assist)
The first Norwegian to don an Avalanche jersey. He was drafted back when the team was still playing in Quebec. He spent the majority of his career in Europe, twice attempting an NHL comeback, playing for Boston, the New York Islanders and Detroit. It always sooner or later resulted in an AHL demotion. He played in Norway since 2004. He also appeared in one game in the Norwegian league, despite already being 42 years old.
43. Per Ledin - 3 games, 0 points
The though Swede is included in the same category of Europeans, who played his only NHL games in Colorado. He played the last three games of the 2008-09 season in Denver. He spent the remainder of his tenure there in the AHL, openly criticizing the team’s management following his departure. He played the last season in Switzerland.
44. Mikhail Kuleshov - 3 games, 0 points
Colorado drafted him in 1999 25th overall. After three games for the first team and three seasons in the AHL, his career went downhill. He then played in the Russian and Belarussian league, also playing in the second-tier league in Belarus. He retired under unclear circumstances as a 25-year-old in 2006.
45. Jaroslav Obsut - 3 games, 0 points
The Slovak defenseman played 10 years in various North American leagues. He played three games for Colorado and four for St. Louis, which were the last games of his NHL career. He’s played in Europe since 2004, currently playing for Slovan Bratislava of the KHL.
46. Yuri Babenko - 3 games, 0 points
He was a second-round pick of the Avs. After three games and three seasons in the AHL, like Kuleshov, he returned to Europe, where he played in the Russian league and later in the KHL from 2002 until 2016. He was the captain of Dynamo Moscow during the last three seasons of his career. He won the KHL twice.
47. Darius Kasparaitis - 11 games, 0 points
The Lithuanian-born defenseman became well-known for his though style of play since beginning his NHL career in 1992. He played for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh being traded to Colorado, where he played 11 games. He finished his NHL career as an alternate captain of the New York Rangers. Between 2007 and 2010, he played in the Russian league and the KHL. He took a three-year hiatus from hockey, resuming his career in his native Lithuania, where he played the last four season, but only played sporadically at the age of 45.
48. Anton Lindholm - 12 games, 0 points
Colorado choose the Swedish hockey product in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He earned his spot on the roster after playing for the team’s AHL affiliate last year. He’s currently a permanent fixture on the team’s roster and ranks among one of the more pleasant surprises of this season.
49. Sami Helenius - 33 games, 0 points
Since 1994, he played mostly in the AHL. He had brief stints in the NHL with Calgary and Tampa Bay. He played a number of games for Colorado during the 1999-2000 season, suiting up for a total of 33 games without recording a point. He played the following three years in Dallas and briefly in Chicago. Between 2003 and 2010, he played in Finland, serving as captain during one season before retiring.
1. Semyon Varlamov - 289 games, 139 wins
The Russian goalie was drafted by Washington back in 2006. He came over to the NHL from Russia in 2008, playing three seasons for the Capitals. He was consequently traded to the Avalanche in exchange for two high draft picks. This season is his seventh in Denver. He’s consistently put up good numbers, despite a number of injuries and stretches of mediocre performances. He won the World Championship once.
2. Peter Budaj - 242 games, 101 wins
The Slovak goalie was drafted by the Avs in 2001. He spent three years in the Juniors, coming over to North America in 1999. He spent the following three seasons in the AHL. He earned a spot in the NHL in 2005 and played six seasons for Colorado. His Avalanche tenure was a rollercoaster, stretches of good performances were followed by stretches of subpar games. Nonetheless, he made a good impression.
3. David Aebischer - 174 games, 89 wins
The Swiss goalie had a tough time earning playing time with Patrick Roy still on the team. He made it to the NHL after three seasons in the minors, opting to play in the AHL instead of staying in Switzerland. He was a permanent fixture on the first team’s rosters between 2000 and 2005, serving as the team’s starter during the latter two years. His trade for Montreal’s Jose Theodore is still criticized by many, as a lot of fans think that he never got a real chance to prove himself. Ever since his trade, his career went downhill. He later played on game for Phoenix, which proved to be his last game in the NHL. He played in his native Switzerland between 2007 and 2015, while also spending on season in the AHL in an attempt to make a return to the NHL. He won the Stanley Cup in 2001. Since 2014, he works as a goalie coach.
4. Reto Berra - 35 games, 10 wins
Another Swiss goalie who impressed at international tournaments. His performances earned him a contract with Calgary in 2013. After less than 30 games, he was traded to Colorado. He played two seasons in Denver, posting horrible numbers. He also had brief stints in the AHL. He later signed for Florida, but was demoted to the minors once again. He currently plays for Anaheim.
5. Vitaly Kolesnik - 8 games, 3 wins
The Kazakh goalie only played eight games in the NHL during the 2005-06 season. Afterwards, he only played in the AHL before opting to sign in the KHL, where he won a league championship and has been a permanent fixture on the Kazakh national team. It seems that last season was his last.
6. Tommy Salo - 5 games, 1 win
Colorado was the last stop in the NHL for the Swedish goalie, who is mostly known for the infamous goal he allowed against Belarus at the 2002 Olympics. Before coming to Denver, he played for the New York Islanders, the Denver Grizzlies in the now-defunct IHL and in Edmonton, beginning his career in North America in 1994. After his stint in Denver, he played three season in Sweden, after which chose to retire. Until 2015, he held various positions for a number of hockey teams.
7. Sami Aittokallio - 2 games, 1 loss a 1 game without a statistical entry
The Finn began his career in his homeland and was regarded as a solid goalie prospect in the Avalanche organization. He played in the minors between 2012 and 2014. He played for the Avalanche twice. During one of those games, he fainted due to dehydration and hasn’t played in an NHL game ever since. After two seasons in Finland, he signed for Sparta Prague and has been a member of the team ever since.
8. Roman Will - 1 game without a statistical entry
The Czech goalie came over to North America in 2014. He spent a season in the AHL before earning a call-up to the first team, but only played a couple of minutes in his NHL debut. He’s spent the last two seasons in the Czech league.
The following two players weren’t included in the ranking, as they became members of the Avalanche prior to this season. Andrei Mironov became the 58th and Nail Yakupov the 59thEuropean player to don an Avalanche jersey. Yakupov spent his junior career in Canada before being drafted first overall in 2012. After four mediocre seasons in Edmonton, he was traded to St. Louis but wasn’t very successful during his sole season for the Blues. His stint with the Avalanche is most likely his last chance in the NHL. Mironov has played the past five seasons in the KHL, where he made his name as a solid shutdown defenseman. He played two games for the Avalanche, who drafted him in 2015, by the time this articles was published.
EDIT: Swedish defenseman Patrik Nemeth became the 60th European Avalanche player after being claimed off waivers from Dallas. He has since played 12 games for Colorado, recording 6 points (a goal and 5 assists).
