Force of Nature: Joe Sakic, A Star-Studded Team, and How the Colorado Avalanche Built a Stanley Cup Winner

by Peter Baugh

The Colorado Avalanche entered the 2021-2022 NHL season with a sense of unfinished business. After years of strategic building under Joe Sakic that had produced a truly formidable core of talent, the Avs turned years of postseason heartbreak into fuel for one of the most dominant Stanley Cup playoff runs in recent memory. 

In Force of Nature, The Athletic's Peter Baugh expertly retraces the team's unforgettable championship season as well as the elements that made it all possible—the competitive drive of Nathan MacKinnon, the leadership of Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar's meteoric rise, and more.

Featuring in-depth reporting and an unforgettable cast of characters both on the ice and in the front office, this is the story of how the Avalanche built the winningest team in the salary cap era, vanquished the reigning back-to-back champion Tampa Bay Lightning, and returned the Stanley Cup to Colorado.

Genres: Hockey, Nonfiction, Sports

288 pages, Paperback

Published November 29, 2022

Reviews

[Jānis B-B · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining read on one of the most dominant NHL teams in recent history — the 2021-22 Stanley Cup champions, Colorado Avalanche.

P. Baugh’s book illustrates all the intricate steps that went into building a championship contender in Denver and gives a behind-the-scenes look into the Avs’ cup-winning season.

There are plenty of interesting passages on the upbringing and earlier career developments of the guys on the roster, showcasing how they all found their way to the squad that won it all.

A great book about hockey for fans of the sport.

[booksbydiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely compelling read with beautiful prose! It's been over a year since the Colorado Avalanche hoisted the Stanley Cup but while reading this book, it felt like I was right there again, watching it all happen in real time. This was a great read and I would recommend this to everyone missing Avalanche hockey right now during the offseason or if you want a candid-inside to how this team achieved the highest honor in the National Hockey League.

[Diva Prestia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i adore this team so much 🥹

i love how this was written; it feels like a story. i laughed, i cried, i got enraged, i got chills. you honestly don’t even need to know anything about the avalanche to get invested in this story. you’re following the journey along with them. and the way that postseason played out, it honestly felt like a story in its own right. like you can’t write that stuff, man. even though i lived through this entire saga in real time, it almost felt like a fictional story while reading it back. it was amazing. it was poetic. it was perfect. and peter did a great job of letting us relive it in a super engaging and informative way.

TURN THE LIGHTS OFF, CARRY ME HOME 🏔️🏆

[Kalyn OByrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Force of Nature retraces the Avalanches unforgettable championship season and examines the elements that made it possible.

This was such a fun read! I loved reliving last season through this book! Often times I would pause my reading to pull up highlights from a game referenced! I also loved hearing more the behind the scenes stories that I hadn’t heard before!

[Tom Endean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow- the amount of research and the depth of analysis that went into this is incredible. I truly feel like I read a biography of every single member of the Avs from 2017-2022 in Peter’s retelling. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and tore through it in about a day and a half. Hopefully the Avs become a dynasty so I’ll get the chance to read the follow up!

[Cally73 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently the NHL finally released their film of the Colarado Avalanche's Stanley Cup quest and eventual win. While it was great to re-watch pivotal moments, it was lacking several storylines and a personal feel. Peter's book is everything the Stanley Cup film should have been.

I have been a fan of Peter's writing for The Athletic. I enjoy the balance of the analysis and the player stories. Force of Nature is very much a blend of this.

From the assembling of the team, through each play off series, to the ultimate triumph, Peter covers all the highs and lows. There are plenty of behind the scenes glimpses.

Storylines such as Nazem Kadri in St. Louis are given the attention they deserve. I was especially pleased to see the "We Stand With Naz" campaign mentioned.

The book  has some black and white photos, but is really filled with text. No padding out, just an excellent read, and one I'll be returning to.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

peter baugh has always been one of my favorite beat writers I have been meaning to read this book forever, I’m so glad I finally got around to it. peter’s writing told this story perfectly. sometimes it’s so hard for me to get into nonfiction but I was engaged from the very first sentence (definitely helps that I care so much about the subject.)

reliving this cup run was something so beautiful to me, one of my highlights of becoming a sports fan was watching this all happen. there were times I was reading and it unlocked memories of silly little things that happened throughout the season, or I remembered exactly where I was watching certain moments. I will never forget screaming & jumping up and down in my living room after the game 6 win. this team was something sooo special, I truly think about them all the time. late nights in the middle of june forever and ever!!! 🏔️🏆💙

[Zach Trask · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Baugh did an incredible job detailing everything that occurred both on the ice and behind the scenes that led to the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup during the 2021-2022 NHL season.

From Joe Sakic retiring and becoming an executive, to drafting Nathan MacKinnon with the #1 overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, to being the worst team in the NHL in the 2016-2017 season, to trading for savvy veterans like Andrew Cogliano in March of 2022, Peter captured the whole picture.

[Chainsaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and informative look behind the scenes of building an elite NHL team and its run to claim the '21-'22 Stanley Cup. Avalanche fans will instantly recall much if not all of the playoff game action described in the book, but the author also provides excellent background information regarding the players' injuries, adversity, and mindset throughout the playoffs.
Highly recommended for fans of hockey, and especially for Colorado Avalanche fans!

[fyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

ignoring that they were a first round exit this year by reading this...

NATHAN MACKINNON I SEE YOUR AUTISM!!!!!!!!! (joking...mostly)

i am perhaps exactly the audience for this: a stats nerd, weirdly obsessed with hockey, and someone who loves a personal storyline within a hockey team. congrats to the 2021-2022 colorado avalanche team u r kinda everything to me now (except you, erik johnson.)

[Owyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a diehard Avalanche fam, this book has everything. It's an in-depth, wholehearted exploration of what made last year's team champions. So much insight and joy and heartbreak, all insanely well written. I already pay for an Athletic subscription basically just to read Baugh's work, and I didn't hesitate to snatch up this as well. Absolutely worth it, and such a profoundly great read.

[Travelmaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt like I was watching a movie of an intense season of hockey, from training camp to the Stanley Cup. Interesting behind-the-scenes stories. Author clearly loves the sport and has great connections with the people involved.

[Maddie Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who became a fan of the avalanche during the 2022 Stanley cup run, I love how the book was so detailed about each player and each moment that led to their success. Peter Baugh did a phenomenal job and I love the Avalanche even more.

[Julie Redlinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading about the steps that Joe Sakic took to make this winning team and the background of the players as well as their thoughts on things. If anyone loves sports, let alone hockey and the Av's this book is a must

[Eric Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Describing the action of any sport is difficult to do in a way that is compelling (like you know what you are talking about), easy to follow, and fun to read- and Baugh nailed it. He is an exceptional writer. A must read for any hockey and especially Avs fan!

[Kevin Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just an all-around fun read. I learned some behind the scenes details of various trades, relationships, and conversations that I didn’t previously know, which was cool. But the thing I liked best was just getting to re-live the season and the playoff run. So many good memories. Go Avs!

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable! It was great reading about the different Avalanche players leading up to the Stanley Cup win. Loved the details!

[Chandra Powers Wersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit chaotic in the chronology but otherwise a fun read

[morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

the things i wouldn’t give to be back in this cup run tbh

[Dallen Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fantastic retelling of the 2021-2022 Stanley Cup Champions, Colorado Avalanche. Baugh has a great mixture of storytelling, game recaps, and statistics to keep you intrigued and inspired. I found myself laughing, crying, and most importantly smiling as I relived a memorable hockey season. I thought Baugh hit his stride as he took us game by game in the postseason, retelling exactly what happened on and off the ice. I would have loved some more quotes from higher profile players but beggars can’t be choosers. The research and development was well done. I can’t say enough about this debut author and his book. I’ll just sign off by saying, turn the lights off, carry me home. And Go Avs Go.