Part Two: The Best Players in Colorado Avalanche History

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This is part two of the list for the Colorado Avalanche: The Best Players in History. Today I will be counting down the all-time best players from numbers 20 to 11.

While I say thanks to the readers who helped me see these guys are too good to not be on a list, some of these are my personal picks.

No. 20 Andrei Kovalenko: 1995-1996

Andrei Kovalenko played 25 games as an Avalanche from 1995-1996. He landed here because in those 25 games, he had 22 points, 11 goals, and 11 assists.

Fantastic.

No. 19 Peter Budaj: 2005-present

Filling in for a living legend is no easy feat. I am not saying he's the next Patrick Roy, but he could be. Budaj has shown that he can be as good as any goalie in the league.

He will probably rise on this list in the next few years.

No. 18 Mike Keane: 1995-1997, 2002-2003

Mike Keane didn't spend a lot of time in an Avalanche uniform, but in his tenure, he was great. He scored goals when he needed to, and he defended.

Keane is one of only nine players to win the Stanley Cup with three different teams: Montreal, Colorado, and Dallas.

No. 17 John Michael Liles: 2003-2004, 2005-present

I have met this man; I currently live in his hometown of Zionsville, Ind.

This guy is so classy, Ron Burgundy should change his sign-off to, "You stay John Michael Liles, San Diego."

This guy has been a producer on the team, scoring 198 goals in five seasons.

No.16 Sandis Ozoliņš (Sandis Ozolinsh) 1995-2000

Sandis Ozoliņš (Sandis Ozolinsh in English) was one of the great scoring defensemen the Avalanche had ever seen.

In 5 seasons with the Avalanche Ozolinsh threw up 253 points, that is what most wingers would hope of scoring in 5 years.

Welcome to the top 20 Sandis.

No.15 Adam Deadmarsh: 1995-2001

Adam Deadmarsh was a great all-around player. From the right wing, he scored 271 points in five seasons and helped the Avalanche hoist the Stanley Cup in 1996.

He became the first player to have his name corrected on the Cup: It was originally engraved as Adam Deadmarch.

Deadmarsh was honored at a game at the Staples Center in L.A. between the Avalanche and Kings for his contributions to both teams.

No. 14 Valeri Kamensky: 1995-1999

Valeri Kamensky was a great offensive tool to have on the Avalanche. In his four years with the team, Kamensky scored 261 total goals.

As one of the originals to come from Quebec, Kamensky was a core team member essential for winning the 1996 Stanley Cup.

No.13 Claude Lemieux: 1995-2000

Claude Lemieux may be best known for the check on Red Wings' player Kris Draper that rearranged his face. Later, Lemieux would have an epic fight with Red Wings' right-winger Darren McCarty for the hit.

Note: Looking at the video, it appears that Lemieux landed quite a few more punches than McCarthy. This refueled hockey's most intense rivalry.

Lemieux came over from the Devils in 1995 and became the fifth player to win back-to-back Stanley Cups with two different teams.

No.12 Stéphane Yelle: 1995-2002

Yelle was on the original team as a checking line center. He became a known face in the franchise while in Colorado before being traded to the Calgary Flames for defensemen Derek Morris.

He scored 106 points on a line that wasn't meant to score.