Denver Sports Fans Question Early Season Performance of Avalanche and Nuggets

Denver residents are questioning the early performance of the city’s two major professional teams. The Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Nuggets have both shown inconsistent results in the opening weeks of their 2026 seasons, prompting local commentators to weigh which organization faces the more serious challenges.

The Avalanche began the season with an 8-5-1 record after fourteen games. This pace matches their average win total from the previous four seasons at the same mark. However, the team has allowed four or more goals in four games this year, a lower number than the five such defeats they recorded in the same span last season. Goalie Scott Wedgewood is not performing at the same high level he achieved in the prior campaign. The team’s speed has also appeared diminished on the ice compared to recent memory.

The Nuggets sit at 3-2 in the early part of the November standings. They are not among the seven Western Conference teams that started the month with a winning percentage of .667 or higher. That group includes the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, and Portland Trail Blazers. A year ago, only five teams in the West were playing at that clip. The Nuggets’ defensive passing has become a permanent characteristic rather than a temporary issue. They nearly acquired Jaylen Brown during the offseason to add a two-way presence with intensity, but the deal did not materialize.

Troy Renck argues that the Avalanche represent the bigger concern. He notes that general manager Joe Sakic gave head coach Jared Bednar a four-year extension despite Bednar entering his twelfth season with the franchise. Renck suggests Bednar’s message may have become stale, similar to the situation with former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan after a decade. The Avalanche have been eliminated in every postseason since winning the 2022 Stanley Cup.

Sean Keeler counters that the NBA’s competitive environment makes the Nuggets’ situation precarious. He points out that the Western Conference is crowded at the top, with the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs leading the pack. This means the Nuggets may have to leapfrog more teams than expected to secure a strong playoff position. Keeler also notes that the Stanley Cup Playoffs are more random than the NBA postseason, making it difficult to judge a team’s true ability in November.

The Avalanche are expected to continue tweaking their roster around the mid-season and trade deadline. The Nuggets are likely to continue with their current core unless a team is willing to take on Jamal Murray’s contract. Both organizations face the prospect of disappointing runs if they do not address their respective weaknesses.

Denver fans are left to watch both teams navigate a season that looks more volatile than anticipated. The Avalanche rely on a championship roster that is showing age, while the Nuggets struggle to find consistency in a tough division. The coming months will test whether either team can correct course or if the early struggles will define their seasons.