from Kyle Fredrickson of the Denver Post,

The NHL spotlight this training camp shines brightest on the Colorado Avalanche as betting favorites to win the 2021 Stanley Cup.

Nathan MacKinnon welcomes the hype.

Sportsbooks project 6-to-1 odds for the Avs to win it all, matching internal expectations of a proud hockey franchise seeking its fourth championship. It all starts this week at training camp for a shortened 56-game season.

“Our expectation is to win the Cup, not just to claw and scrape our way into the playoffs,” MacKinnon told reporters Monday during a video news conference. “We had a great practice to get off on the right foot. Every day, we’re going to need to get a little bit better and come together as a group. Play for one another and hold each other accountable. We feel good. Everyone is in great shape and pressure is, obviously, a nice thing to have.”

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