The NHL's current iron man (925 consecutive games) has found a new home on Wednesday as Colorado signed Brent Burns to a one-year contract. The 40-year-old veteran is entering his 22nd NHL season with his fourth team. Despite his age, he has managed to stay effective, putting up six goals and 29 points last season alongside a +7 plus/minus across 82 games played.
Colorado added to its defensive depth on Day 1 of free agency by bringing in Ronald Attard on a one-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old appeared in 29 NHL games with Philadelphia across the last three seasons, picking up two goals and six points with a -1 plus/minus. He is expected to battle for one of Colorado's final defensive openings when training camp roles around.
Colorado continued to add to its minor league depth on Tuesday after signing Jack Ahcan to a one-year contract extension. The 28-year-old undrafted defenseman was called up for two games with the Avalanche last season but failed to make much of an impact. In 69 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) last season, he had an impressive five goals and 41 points.
After appearing in nine games for Colorado in 2024-25, T.J. Tynan has signed a one-year contract extension to remain with the Avalanche and provide some depth at forward. The 33-year-old picked up just one assist during his short stint with the Avalanche last season but impressed with the Colorado Eagles (AHL), picking up eight goals and 49 points in 52 games played.
Colorado has secured some goaltending depth at the beginning of free agency by signing Trent Miner to a two-year contract extension. The 24-year-old goaltender made his NHL debut in 2024-25 with Colorado, appearing in two games and posting a .879 SV% and 2.62 GAA. He is expected to return to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) for the start of the 2025-26 season, where he posted a .918 SV%, 2.12 GAA and 22-10-9 record in 2024-25.
Colorado solidified its depth for the next four seasons after signing forward Parker Kelly to a four-year, $6.8 million contract extension ($1,700,000 AAV) on Tuesday. The 26-year-old spent the first four years of his career in Ottawa before signing with Colorado last season and posting career highs in both goals (8) and points (19) in his first season as an Avalanche player in 2024-25.
Malinski is an undrafted defenseman who became an NHL regular last season. The 26-year-old played 76 games with the Avalanche in the 2024-25 season, averaging 15:57 time-on-ice and scoring 15 points (5G / 10A) in 76 games.
Brindley was a second-round pick (No.34 overall) in 2023 but had an underwhelming first pro season, scoring just six goals and 11 assists (17 points) in 52 games with Cleveland (AHL). Colorado's pipeline was pretty empty, so adding a player like Brindley while shedding $7.75M AAV was a tidy piece of business.
After a brief eight-game debut (which included a two-game suspension) in 2024-25 with the Colorado Avalanche, Matthew Steinburg has re-signed a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 24-year-old's 2024-25 season was cut short due to injury, resulting in his appearance in only 13 games between the Eagles (AHL) and Avalanche.
After appearing in just two games with the Colorado Avalanche in 2024-25, Jason Polin has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension on Friday. The 26-year-old right winger spent the majority of last season with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) where he had 11 goals and 19 points in 39 games played.
Colorado announced Friday that forward Logan O'Connor had successfully undergone hip surgery and is expected to miss the next five to six months as he recovers. The 28-year-old produced an impressive two goals and six points in seven playoff games in Colorado's opening series loss to Dallas this past season.
Nelson was acquired from the Islanders in March and had 13 points (6G / 7A) in 19 regular-season games and four assists in seven playoff games with the Avalanche. The 33-year-old will serve as Colorado's No.2 centre in 2025-26 and is signed through the 2027-28 season.
Nabokov was Colorado's 2024 2nd-round pick (38th overall) and has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche. The 22-year-old Russian netminder has already been loaned back to Metallurg (KHL) for the 2025-26 season after posting a 23-17-6 record, .923 SV% and 2.22 GAA in 49 games played in 2024-25.
Following a 23-save shutout in Game 4, the first of his career, Blackwood allowed several questionable goals in Game 5, saving 13 of 18 shots (.722 SV%) before being relieved in the second intermission in a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. Still, the 28-year-old Blackwood has a 2.38 GAA and .909 SV% through five games this postseason (2-3). Colorado faces elimination, trailing their series 3-2, and enters the action on Thursday as -190 road favorites against Dallas.
Colton has not played since exiting Game 1 and will likely be sidelined for the remainder of the first round. The 28-year-old Colton had the 29 points (16G / 13A) in 61 games this season.
Blackwood was lightly tested in Saturday's 4-0 Game 4 victory, evening Colorado's series with the Dallas Stars 2-2, saving all 23 shots he faced for his first career playoff shutout. The 28-year-old netminder has a stellar 1.60 GAA and .939 SV% through four games (2-2) this postseason. Colorado enters a pivotal Game 5 as -139 road favorites against a Dallas team that, despite winning two games, has amazingly only had the lead in this series for 62 seconds.
As expected, the Avalanche will turn back to Blackwood between the pipes for the third game of their opening round series against the Stars. After a fantastic performance in Game 1, Blackwood's play regressed in Game 2, as he allowed four goals on 39 shots in the 4-3 overtime defeat. Blackwood guided the team to a 22-12-3 record in his 36 starts during the regular season, so Jared Bednar's confidence in his starting netminder is understandably unshaken ahead of Game 3. The Avalanche enter action on Wednesday at -190 on the money line.
Landeskog participated in the pregame skate on Monday but was a late scratch, delaying his return to the lineup. He has not played in an NHL game since the 2021-22 season, but appeared in two AHL games during a conditioning loan this month. The Avalanche captain will make his remarkable return to the lineup for the third game of the series, with the Stars and Avs tied at a game a piece.
