- The Colorado Avalanche begin their Stanley Cup defense with a tough opening-week schedule, facing off against the Chicago Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup finalist Tampa Bay Lightning.
- The Avalanche will be looking to get off to a strong start and prove that their championship run was not a fluke, with the return of key players like Nathan MacKinnon and Nazem Kadri.
- Other notable storylines include the debut of highly touted rookies, the continued dominance of the Florida Panthers, and the potential resurgence of teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers.