The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Avalanche arrived in Denver in 1995 after playing since 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques. Since their arrival, over 190 players have played at least one NHL game for the Avalanche. [1] Forty-one of those players have won a Stanley Cup championship with the Avalanche. Six of those players—Adam Foote, Peter Forsberg, Jon Klemm, Patrick Roy, Joe Sakic and Stephane Yelle—were members of both Cup-winning teams in 1996 and 2001. [2] Joe Sakic is the franchise leader in goals, assists and points. [3]
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Six former players have had their number retired by the Avalanche. Ray Bourque's #77 was retired November 24, 2001, [4] Patrick Roy's #33 was retired October 28, 2003, [5] long-time captain Joe Sakic's #19 was retired October 1, 2009, Peter Forsberg's #21 was retired October 8, 2011, Adam Foote's #52 was retired November 2, 2013, and Milan Hejduk's #23 was retired January 6, 2018. Six players have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame: Jari Kurri, Rob Blake, Ray Bourque, Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Patrick Roy. [6] Kurri and Bourque played only the final season of their careers in Colorado, while Roy arrived in the team's first season in Denver, remaining with the Avalanche until his retirement in 2003 as the NHL's all-time wins leader. [7]
