Avs' home opener: What's new for the 2025-26 season?

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Avalanche hockey is back.

Fans got to see their favorite team in action for the season opener against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, when the Avs dropped a 4-1 hammering to start the year.

Those itching to feel the rumbling of feet around Ball Arena after a cruel summer away from hockey have the chance to do so tonight, with the Avs back in Denver for their opener for the 2025-26 season.

What are some of the things to keep an eye on during the first game back in Ball Arena?

The new all-timer

At the end of the 2024-25 season, Nathan MacKinnon left the season tied with Joe Sakic as the franchise’s all-time points leader. After the game against the Kings, where he notched two assists, he returns to Ball Arena tonight as the sole owner of the franchise record, which now sits at 1,017 points.

MacKinnon is now in the fun position of having every point scored break a record, which he will set up all by himself, game after game.

Red hair

It was a very, very, very, very long time the Avalanche spent without their captain, Gabriel Landeskog, after a severe injury sidelined him for the better part of three seasons.

MacKinnon made some history, but Landeskog made some of his own after he returned to the Avalanche during the team’s playoff run last postseason.

Landeskog became the first professional hockey player ever to return from a cartilage replacement surgery in his knee. He missed time before the surgery and spent a grueling 23 months after the surgery rehabbing his knee, and cited NBA player Lonzo Ball’s successful return after the same injury as inspiration to get back out there.

Against all odds, his story led him back to the ice for a brief cameo in the playoffs last year. An emotional journey will continue this season, with Landeskog ready to add to his 248 goals and 323 assists with the Avalanche.

A great player to have back in the ranks, fans will dream of seeing the gleam of Lord Stanley over the head of the captain once again.

Something for your stomach

Not all things have to be related to the ice. This one is for the fans who love the dining experience at a game.

The best part, when you’re supporting your stomach with some food at the new eateries, you’ll also support local businesses. Six new and local shops are debuting at Ball Arena, including:

• Illegal Burger (section 102)
• Mexico City (sections 118, 330)
  • Authentic Mexican Food that is cooked with fresh ingredients
• Redeemer Pizza (sections 126, 342)
  • New York-style pizza with naturally leavened sourdough
• Jake’s Baby D’s (section 134)
  • Mini donuts
• Big Belly Brother’s BBQ (sections 148, 379)
  • Smoked BBQ with fresh seasonings
• Nola Jane (section 303)

Treat your stomach to a night out, too.

Mammoth sighting

The Avalanche knows a thing or two about a successful debut season, winning the Stanley Cup in the team’s first year in Denver during the 1995-96 season, and could give a few pointers to the Utah Mammoth, who are making their debut in the team’s first game of the season.

It’s not technically the team’s inaugural season, as they formerly participated as the Utah Hockey Club, but it is their inaugural season as the Mammoth, after deciding on the team’s branding with fan input over the offseason.

The announcement actually spurred some banter with Colorado, in particular, a team that is very familiar with Ball Arena, the professional lacrosse team, the Colorado Mammoth. During the day of their big reveal, the Utah Mammoth posted on X:

“A new Ice Age Dawns. Introducing Utah Mammoth.”

The statement was accompanied by a video and the hashtag #TusksUp.

To which the Colorado Mammoth playfully responded by quoting the post, saying:

“Mammoth since 2003.”

The post included the hashtag #TuskUp, a singular tusk as opposed to Utah’s plural, a hashtag that has been used in the team’s social posts for a long period of time. The Avs even chimed in on the announcement, responding with:

“Cold environments.”

That was accompanied by an emoji of hands shaking in agreement.

Thursday night’s home opener will see the Avalanche try to start their home defense on the right foot — or skate.

A strong win in the season opener will be a good metric to try to replicate for a team with hopes of winning its second Stanley Cup with this core of players, and what would be the franchise’s fourth overall.