Looking ahead for the Avalanche: How to become the NHL's next superpower

As each NHL team is eliminated from the postseason, we'll take a look at why its quest for the Stanley Cup fell short in 2018-19, three keys to its offseason, impact prospects for 2019-20 and a way-too-early prediction for what next season will hold.

What went wrong

Let's put it bluntly: This Colorado Avalanche season was a smashing success.

The Avalanche arrived ahead of schedule last season with a surprising playoff berth -- thanks in large part to an MVP runner-up season from Nathan MacKinnon -- but everyone in the NHL expected them to take a step back in 2018-19. They started off hot, endured some tough stretches, but they started putting together strong wins at the end of the season to make the playoffs yet again -- even while juggling injuries to top-line players like Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog.

What's more: Colorado amped it up to another gear in the first-round series against the Calgary Flames, the Western Conference's top seed. Aided by the arrival of super rookie defenseman Cale Makar, and strong performances from players like Tyson Barrie, the Avalanche exceed all expectations with a 4-1 series win that felt like even more of a blowout. We would be remiss to not mention that MacKinnon and Rantanen were absolutely sensational, combining for 27 points in their 12 games.

The San Jose Sharks simply had more urgency to win this season -- and by the end of the second-round series, had frustrated the Avalanche. Though it was a disappointing end, the future is brighter than ever in Colorado.

Keys to the offseason

An extension for Mikko Rantanen. The biggest (and most obvious) to-do item on GM Joe Sakic's agenda is working out a long-term extension for top-line winger Mikko Rantanen. The 22-year-old Finn is coming off a spectacular season, setting new career highs in goals (31) and points (87) despite playing just 74 games. The Avs have plenty of cap space to get it done, thanks in part to MacKinnon's ultra-affordable deal (he's making $6.3 million annually through 2022-23, perhaps the NHL's best bargain on a superstar).

Rantanen will surely command more than MacKinnon, so Colorado's front office will have to manage the optics of paying their top-line winger significantly more than their top-line center. (The other top winger, captain Gabriel Landeskog, is also a huge bargain, making just over $5.5 million annually through 2020-21.)

The goaltending beyond Grubauer. By the end of the season and through the playoffs, Philipp Grubauer had supplanted Semyon Varlamov as the team's No. 1 goaltender, as expected. Grubauer, 27, should begin the season as the starter, and he's under contract for a reasonable $3.3 million annually through 2020-21. Varlamov, 31, becomes a free agent this summer. It's not unreasonable for the Avalanche to bring him back on a short-term deal, though they'll likely ask for a reduced salary from the $5.9 million he was making this season. Or, they'll find a new No. 2 from among a myriad of options.

Keep incorporating the youngsters. The Avalanche have done a good job of rebuilding on the fly while remaining competitive. They've been able to give players like 20-year-old defenseman Samuel Girard big minutes, and see another 20-year-old, Makar, seamlessly jump into the playoff fold. They need to keep up with this trend next season to keep developing that new core. And remember: They own the Ottawa Senators' first-round pick (No. 4 overall) as a result of the October 2017 trade of Matt Duchene, and this pick could push for playing time sooner than later as well.

Impact prospects for 2019-20

Cale Makar, D, age 20: It is not often a team knows one of its prospects is ready to slot into a substantial role on Day 1 of the following season, but given the performance of Makar in the playoffs, the Avs are going to have that chance. The Hobey Baker winner often looked like an old pro in his postseason contests with Colorado this spring. Now he'll have the benefit of a full summer of preparation and invaluable experience gained throughout the playoffs. Much like Charlie McAvoy did for the Boston Bruins a few years back, Makar will be able to come in and be counted on for big minutes and a sizable role in the team's play at both ends of the ice. What a luxury.

Logan O'Connor, RW, age 22: Signed out of the nearby University of Denver last summer, O'Connor exceeded expectations in his first professional season. He was a top performer for the Colorado Eagles in the AHL, with 42 points in 64 games as a rookie. His speed and versatility could allow O'Connor to slot into a depth role on the NHL roster as early as next season.

Realistic expectation for 2019-20

This is a team that's ascending. The Avalanche have the building blocks to be one of the NHL's next superpower teams with sustained success, and that begins in 2019-20. The rebuilding is nearing its final stage. Now it's time to bring another Stanley Cup to Denver.