The 2023 portion of this NHL season has often been anything but typical for the Avalanche.
For a team that entered this campaign as one of the top contenders for the Stanley Cup, some of it has gone exactly as expected and other days have felt like they were extracted from a different world in an NHL multiverse.
The Avs will begin 2024 atop the Central Division standings if they prevail Sunday night against the San Jose Sharks. They could also be third in the division in points percentage.
They are certainly one of the best teams in the league, and might have a gear that no other club can get to.