Bruins acquire Ivan Ivan from Avalanche for Fabian Lysell

A couple of perennial minor-leaguers are trading places.

On Saturday, the Boston Bruins acquired forward Ivan Ivan from the Colorado Avalanche. In exchange, the Avalanche are receiving forward Fabian Lysell.

Both teams are simply receiving each other’s signing rights, as Lysell and Ivan are both pending restricted free agents. Lysell is coming off his three-year, entry-level contract that he signed with the Bruins in August 2021. The deal carried an AAV of $1,034,167 and a minor-league salary of $80,000. Ivan, an undrafted center, is coming off a two-year ELC that he signed in March 2024 after a solid rookie season with the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s American Hockey League affiliate. That contract had an NHL cap hit of $845,000 and an AHL salary of $82,500.

Ivan saw considerable NHL time during the 2024-25 season, appearing in 40 games with the Avalanche. However, this past year, he played in just nine games, picking up one assist. With the Eagles, the 23-year-old posted 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 68 games. He added another 15 points in 17 Calder Cup Playoff contests, as Colorado reached the Western Conference Final before being eliminated by the Chicago Wolves.

In 49 NHL contests, Ivan has scored five goals and four assists for nine points. In 169 regular-season games in the AHL, he has posted 25 goals and 44 assists for 69 points, with 18 points in 29 playoff games.

Lysell was once regarded as a top prospect, with Boston taking the Swede in the first round, 21st overall, of the 2021 NHL Draft. However, he has been unable to find a solid spot in the big club, spending most of the past three seasons with the Providence Bruins, the B’s primary affiliate. This past year, the 23-year-old scored 17 goals and 25 assists for 42 points for a team that finished with the best record in the AHL.

In 219 AHL regular-season games, Lysell has scored 57 goals and 106 assists for 163 points, with three helpers in 12 postseason contests. He played in 12 games with Boston during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring a goal and two assists.