As far as we know, the Colorado Avalanche have finalized their roster for the 2024-25 season. Free agent signings and expiring contract extensions have the Avalanche close to the cap, and we could see this roster until the trade deadline. Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin could also join the lineup if they’re available. The team is ready to compete for another Stanley Cup, but are they good enough to make another deep run?

Last season, GM Chris MacFarland was willing to make moves at the trade deadline to fill holes. In a perfect world, he wouldn’t have to wait until the deadline to make those moves this season. However, the Avalanche are constrained by the salary cap and may have to wait until the Landeskog and Nichushkin situations are resolved and more funding becomes available. Players get injured, suffer cold spells, or don’t click with the team, and changes need to be made. Here are three positions the Avalanche need to improve before the trade deadline.

Fourth line center

The Avalanche have talent and depth at center. Nathan MacKinnon, Casey Mittelstadt and Ross Colton are a great one-two-three puncherbut unfortunately it goes away after that. Chris Wagner, who I started the season on the fourth line, is an option, but there are no other experienced players behind him who are NHL-ready. Unless there are injuries or he can’t play at the level he expects, changes will have to be made. Who can fill that fourth line position and excel?

We saw in the last few playoffs how important the bottom six players are to the lineup. In a perfect world, the Avs find a player who is great at taking faceoffs and can kill penalties. Steven Lorentz of the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers is available. He’s 6-foot-4, 216 pounds, and can play center and left wing. He won’t attack them much, but he recorded 12.57 hits-per-60, which would be a team-high. He’s big, a good skater, and a penalty killer. He could be a perfect fourth-liner who can be switched in occasionally.

Middle six forward

This position could be filled by the return of Landeskog and Nichushkin, but their timelines are still unknown. Ideally, Nikolai Kovalenko fills that spot, utilizing his speed and willingness to hit and play physically despite his size to fit into a top-six role. Fortunately, the team has a few months to try out different line combinations to see who fits best in different roles. It was similar to Jonathan Drouin last season. It took him a while to find his rhythm, moving up and down the lineup, but once he did, he was a lock on the top line with MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. That’s why re-signing him was such a priority this offseason.

Related: Avalanche gives Nikolai Kovalenko a chance to prove himself

Finding a middle-six player is more difficult than finding the right fourth-line center. In most cases, acquiring a fourth-line center is very affordable. You can sign one as a free agent for a low price or look for trades involving American Hockey League (AHL) players or low-value draft picks (rounds five, six, seven). In most cases, signing them as free agents is the best option. A solid middle-six player who can make an immediate impact for the team will always revolve around a trade or being signed on day one of free agency. Trades like these cost a pretty penny, often high-round draft picks and either starting players or high-end prospects that the Avalanche don’t want to part with.

Depth/Third Goalkeeper

It was another goalie or defender for this final position need to address this offseason. However, I have faith that the newly acquired Erik Brannstrom and Sam Malinski will fill the defensive void. I am wary of the team’s goaltending though. I will readily admit that Alexandar Georgiev proved me wrong in the playoffs. Still, he should impress after last season’s performance, which was a major disappointment compared to his first season with the team. I look forward to seeing more of Justus Annunen as he grows as a backup, but he lacks experience and could use this season as a new step in his career.

Looking at the AHL Colorado Eagles, Kevin Mandolese, who was just acquired, and Trent Miner are good but not “ideal” third-string goaltenders, especially Miner, who wants to keep the starting position and shine this season. Martin Jones, Kevin Lankinen and Anti Raanta are all experienced goalies who are unsigned and could be moved between the AHL and NHL if necessary.

The Avalanche have a number of positions to fill this season to help them get over the hump. Free agency has done enough to fill out the roster ahead of training camp and the start of the season, but there is still room for improvement and training camp could reveal the holes that still need to be filled. Chris MacFarland and Joe Sakic will need to make some adjustments to lead the team to another successful playoff run, either before the season starts or in a last-minute move before the trade deadline.