What is the name of the NHL team that plays in Denver?

The NHL team that plays in Denver is the Colorado Avalanche.

The Avalanche relocated to Denver from Quebec City in 1995, carrying forward the franchise history of the Quebec Nordiques. They played their first Denver game on October 6, 1995, defeating the Detroit Red Wings 3–2 at McNichols Sports Arena. The club now plays at Ball Arena, shared with the NBA’s Denver Nuggets.

The move produced immediate success. Colorado won the Stanley Cup in its first season in Denver, defeating the Florida Panthers in the 1996 Final. The franchise later captured championships in 2001 and 2022. Its most famous early stars included Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Patrick Roy, and Ray Bourque, who won his only Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001.

Denver has had other professional teams with similar geographic names, which can cause confusion. The Denver Broncos play football, the Denver Nuggets play basketball, and the former Denver Grizzlies were a minor-league hockey team. The Quebec Nordiques are not a separate current NHL team; their franchise became the Avalanche.