Avalanche Take Unusual Approach With 20-Man Opening Roster

The Colorado Avalanche have submitted a roster ahead of NHL Opening Night that currently consists of 20 active players.

In the NHL, the League allows for a maximum of 23 players on each organization's roster from the commencement of the regular season through the trade deadline; each team must also have a roster containing a minimum of 20 players — composed of 18 skaters and two goaltenders. For the Avalanche, their 20 active players are comprised of two goalies, seven defensemen, and 11 forwards.

Five players are currently noted on injured reserve/non-roster — Taylor Makar, Logan O'Connor, Georgii Merkulov, Trent Miner and Zachary L'Heureux.

The full Colorado roster is as follows:

Goalies (two):

Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Defensemen (seven):

Devon Toews
Cale Makar
Brett Kulak
Josh Manson
Noah Juulsen
Sam Malinski
Brent Burns

Forwards (11):

Fedor Svechkov
Nicolas Roy
Brock Nelson
T.J. Hughes
Parker Kelly
Nathan MacKinnon
Artturi Lehkonen
Jaden Schwartz
Martin Necas
Nazem Kadri
Gabriel Landeskog

The addition of T.J. Hughes is noteworthy, as he made the roster after having originally gone undrafted after his career with the University of Michigan.

"I'm really excited to get started tomorrow and play that game," Hughes said. "It's going to be a great night, [I'm] super pumped. Opening Night and it's at Ball [Arena] too — which is even a little cherry on top."