Another installment of Bold Predictions where we attempt to make a prediction for the upcoming season and ask the fans for their insight. Today we ponder how many 20 goal scorers the Colorado Avalanche will have in the 2017-18 season.
Question: Over or Under four 20 goal scorers in the upcoming season?
A Case for Over: Its not irrational to hope that those players who have hit the 20 goal mark in the past can do so again. Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen and Matt Duchene, who is a member of the Avalanche until he isn't, have all hit the 20 goal mark previously in Colorado. Throw in rookies who can fill the net in Tyson Jost and JT Compher and the possibilities begin to add up.
A Case for Under: Mikko Rantanen was the only player to hit 20 goals in 2016-17 and while an increase in players hitting that mark is expected it's best to temper expectations. The Avalanche must first prove they have a competent offense and a team that can generate more goals as a whole. Even assuming the 2016-17 season with 166 total goals scored was an especially poor outlier, the previous two seasons saw Colorado in the bottom half of the league in regards to goals for at 216 and 219 respectively.
Prediction: Just under. It will be a slow process getting the team and its offense back on track. Three 20 goal scorers would be progress with hope for more in the future as the rookies gain experience. In full healthy seasons I expect MacKinnon, Rantanen and Landeskog to hit the mark.
What do you think? How many 20 goal scorers will the Avs have this season and who do you expect?
Poll
Over/Under four 20 goal scorers for the Avs?
This poll is closed
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36%
Over
-
31%
Under
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32%
Four is on the money