Could the Avalanche Have the Best Second Line in the NHL?

Two weeks ago I wrote about the Avalanche’s offense has revolved around four forwards pretty much all year. It was Nathan MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen, One of Mikko Rantanen or Martin Necas, and whoever was the healthy at any given time between Jonathan Drouin and Valeri Nichushkin

My weekly Monday column asked if the Avalanche’s season was worth saving. Back then, it didn’t feel like it was.

But someway, somehow, the front office has not only salvaged it, but they made the type of moves that have elevated Colorado from a middling wildcard team to easily one of the league’s premier Cup contenders once again. There’s no question it came with a heavy cost of assets, but it was needed.

Kudos to the players on the ice for keeping this team afloat long enough to allow the front office that opportunity.

READ MORE: The Avalanche’s Center Depth is a Problem — And That’s Bad News for the NHL (+)

This brings us to Saturday. The Avs got their first glimpse of what the new-look roster looks like. Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, and Ryan Lindgren all on the team, all healthy, and all making an impact. It was the first look at all of them plus a fully healthy lineup (outside of Gabriel Landeskog).

It was the first time we got to see what Jared Bednar has to work with when everyone is at his disposal. The early returns were great. Colorado outclassed Toronto despite falling into a two-goal hole. It’s why they were able to climb out of it without hesitation.

The second line looked like an absolute weapon. Jonathan Drouin is healthy and producing. He’s playing a strong two-way game. Valeri Nichushkin continues to do what he does best when he’s playing hockey. And he was rewarded with a hat trick.

Nelson, the center that ties the line together, was an instant fit. He, too, played a strong two-way game and was noticeable in all the right ways. He gave Bednar a trustful secondary option in all situations after MacKinnon, which hasn’t been a thing since Nazem Kadri departed in 2022.

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The trio had a couple of misplays that directly led to Leafs goals. But you could see something forming between the three of them. They had 59% of shot attempts and five scoring chances against Toronto when they were on the ice together.

It was the first time in a long, long time that the Avs had a top-six line outside of MacKinnon’s line that they could trot out there and feel confident with. It’s uncharted territory — something Bednar hasn’t had since 2022.

If that second line continues to build chemistry. If they continue to figure out each others games and they continue to support each others strengths, I do wonder about something that hasn’t come to mind since, again, 2022. Forgive me for jumping the gun on this, but I still need to ask:

Could the Avalanche have the best second line in the NHL?

Drouin spent most of last year honing in on his 200-foot game. Bednar often credits him for taking strides and putting in the work to become a two-way player who can also produce offense at nearly a point-per-game pace. His biggest obstacle has been health. But he has that right now.

Nichushkin has far more obstacles to deal with, specifically off the ice. But on the ice, you can’t argue just how valuable he is. Colorado is 19-7-0 with him in the lineup and 19-17-2 without. Ever since Mackenzie Blackwood made his debut with the Avs, they have a record of 12-1-0 with Nichushkin in the lineup and 9-9-2 without him.

Nichushkin’s Hat Trick Lifts Dangerous New-Look Avalanche Over Toronto

Nelson rounds out a line that can be both an offensive dynamite and has the ability to play a shutdown role. By acquiring him it allows Bednar the ability, if needed, to deploy his second line against any team’s top line, which in turn frees up Necas, Lehkonen, and MacKinnon.

Does it get any better than that? Maybe. But there’s an argument to be made that this is the best it gets.

The Eastern Conference has strong contenders in this category.

Florida, when healthy, will put up a fight. Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand will likely be staples of the second line. And whether it’s Sam Reinhart or Matthew Tkachuk, that line will be a dominant force. I still think they’ll play Bennett, Marchand, and Tkachuk because imagine trying to match those three in the playoffs.

Tampa Bay is also an interesting case. Right now, they have Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, and Nikita Kucherov as their second line. This one is far and away the best in the league. No question.

But will Kucherov actually stay there?

He plays there now because Oliver Bjorkstrand is up with Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point. If you swap Bjorkstrand and Kucherov, its still a powerful second line, but the Avs’ trio could give them a run for best in the league.

The Capitals are also a fascinating team this year, largely because their second line is made up of three players who are much greater factors this year than a season ago. Connor McMichael and Aliaksei Protas both took massive jumps in their development. And Pierre-Luc Dubois, at least so far, has found a home.

But what about the Western Conference?

Dallas has Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene, and Mikael Granlund. Also a great line, but I’d still take the Avs.

In Vegas, it’s Brandon Saad, Tomas Hertl, and Pavel Dorofeyev. Ivan Barbashev might eventually replace Saad. Still, the Avalanche are more preferable.

Los Angeles has Anze Kopitar between Adrian Kempe and Andre Kuzmenko. One of these things is not like the other two, and that’s why it’s not far and away better than the Avs. Although I will say, Kempe, at least to me, is one of the most underappreciated players in the league.

Winnipeg has always been a team where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That’s again the case for their second line, which consists of Nikolaj Ehlers, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Cole Perfetti. You could see why they made a strong push for Nelson.

The Oilers’ second line is not much of a threat this year.

What say you?