The 2026 Christmas List: Keeping an eye on this year’s Avs

The first thing I'll be watching is the fit and production from newly acquired forward Jaden Schwartz. I have nothing bad to say about Schwartz as a player, but I worry about him replacing Valeri Nichushkin in the lineup.

I understand and agree that Val wasn't clipping at an ideal pace last year, but to realize ultimate success, they need someone in the top six who operates closer to the dominant Val Nichushkin we saw in 2022 and 2023.

Now, I do believe in making up for production in the aggregate, and that opens the door for a member of the youth movement to show some scoring pop early on, alongside a defensively sound Jaden Schwartz. That combination will make January meetings a lot less stressful for management.