Patrick Roy. (Associated Press)

1998-99 record: 44-28-10, 98 points, 1st Northwest Division
Coach: Bob Hartley (44-28-10, one year as Avalanche coach)
New faces: G Marc Denis, C Alex Tanguay, D Martin Skoula
Losses: G Craig Billington, D Sylvain Lefebvre, LW Valeri Kamensky, RW Theo Fleury, C Dale Hunter, LW Tomi Kallio
Strengths: In Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic, the Avalanche have one of the best 1-2 combinations up the middle in the NHL. Forsberg is considered by many the best two-way player in the world. While his best years may be behind him, G Patrick Roy is still an elite goaltender. He will provide on-the-job training for Denis. This franchise has a wealthy new owner and under GM Pierre Lacroix has locked up most of its core players to long-term contracts. Youngsters C Chris Drury and RW Milan Hejduk proved they're for real during the playoffs and they're both only 23. The Avs should get a boost from moving into the new Pepsi Center. Hartley has a year of experience under his belt.
Weaknesses: The Avalanche almost certainly will start the season without Forsberg, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery. Colorado also has must make up for the free-agent losses of Fleury, Kamensky and Lefebvre. While he remains one of the NHL's top puck-carrying defensemen, Sandis Ozolinsh is a defensive liability. Besides Ozolinsh, however, the Avs get almost no production from the blue line. Colorado has a glaring weakness on the left side, where Shjon Podein is the most experienced player.
Hartley says: "We want to pick our players in a way that we get toughness, try to keep a good chemistry in our lineup. We need to keep progressing defensively. One way we can improve is to cut down on goals-against. That's a priority for the start of the season."