Colorado Avalanche News

Necas was an RFA whose name was at the top of the trade rumours all offseason, but he signs a two-year deal to stay in Carolina through the 2026 season. The 25-year-old winger saw his production take a step back last season, as he went from 71 points (28G / 43A) in 2023 to 53 points (24G / 29A) in 2024. With Jake Guentzel and Teuvo Teravainen not returning to Carolina this summer, it opens up plenty of ice-time and opportunity for Necas to take advantage of in 2025.

Drury decided to go to arbitration with Carolina and led to him signing a two-year, $3.45 million contract extension. ($1,725,000 AAV) to remain with the Hurricanes. The 24-year-old centre appeared in 74 games for Carolina in his third NHL season, and had career highs with eight goals, 27 points, 33 PIM and 106 SOG.

Mandolese was acquired just a day before alongside a 2025 7th round pick from Ottawa for a 2025 6th round pick and has now signed a one-year, two-way contract to stay in Colorado. The 23-year-old goaltender appeared in 23 games for Belleville (AHL) in 2023-24 and had a 3.53 GAA to go alongside his .918 SV%.

Colorado added to its already deep goaltending depth by adding Kevin Mandolese and a 2026 7th round pick from Ottawa for a 2026 6th round pick. The 23-year-old appeared in three NHL games with Ottawa in 2022-23 but spent the majority of the 2023-24 season with Belleville (AHL) picking up a 3.07 GAA and .901 SV%.

Aarnodt will return to Colorado for a third season after he signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Tuesday. The 26-year-old undrafted defenseman joined Colorado from Minnesota State University (Mankato) in 2021-22 and had six goals and 14 points in 60 games played in 2023-24 with the Eagles (AHL).

Bradley was Colorado's 2020 7th-round pick (203rd overall) and signed a two-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday. The 22-year-old just completed his third season at the University of Connecticut (NCAA) and had 11 goals and 22 points in 31 games.

Colorado added to its depth on Monday by signing Parker Kelly to two-year deal worth $1.65 million ($825K AAV). The 25-year-old had a career year in 2023-24, with eight goals, 10 assists, 30 PIMs and 86 SOG in 80 games played.

Joel Kiviranta will return to the Avalanche after a successful first season with Colorado after signing a one-year contract extension on Monday. The 28-year-old left-winger appeared in 56 games with Colorado in 2023-24, scoring three goals, nine points, 12 PIMs and 48 SOG.

MacDonald will return to Colorado where he spent three seasons between 2020 and 2023 after signing a two-year, two-way contract on Monday with the Avalanche. The 31-year-old hybrid defenseman broke his career high in goals (7) in 2023-24, and finished with nine points and 23 PIMs in 34 games played.

Nashville has locked up its backup goaltender for the 2024-25 season after signing Scott Wedgewood to a two-year deal worth $3.0 million ($1.5M AAV). The 31-year-old will join his fourth team in seven seasons after putting up an impressive 16-7-5 record in 2023-24 with a .285 GAA and .899 SV% backing up Jake Oettinger.

Drouin will return to Colorado for a second season and his 11th NHL season after he signed a one-year, $2.5 million extension with the Avalanche. The 29-year-old resurrected his career in 2023-24 by signing a one-year, $825,000 contract and put up a career-high 56 points (19G/37A) in 79 games played.

Despite retirement rumours, 36-year-old Erik Johnson will rejoin the Philadelphia Flyers on a one-year contract extension worth $1,000,000. The defensive defenseman is just 13 games from 1000 played as he enters his 14th NHL season and had five goals, six points and 26 PIMs in 67 games between Buffalo and Philadelphia in 2023-24.

Cogliano announced Friday that Colorado had offered for him to return for an 18th NHL season but the 37-year-old felt it was his time to hang up the skates as he retired after 17 seasons and 1294 NHL games. In his final NHL season in 2023-24 with Colorado he had six goals and 19 points to add to his 190 career goals and 464 career points. Cogliano is one of eight players in NHL history to have an Iron Man streak of 800+ games.

Innala appeared in 42 games for Forlunda HC (SHL) in 2023-24, picking up 16 goals and 28 points and signed a one-year, entry-level contract on Thursday with Colorado. The 26-year-old left-winger has played the last three seasons for Frolunda HC and has also represented Finland at the World Championships three times in his career.

Lehkonen will undergo shoulder surgery in the near future, and his availability for 2024-25 training camp is "going to be close," according to GM Chris MacFarland.

Miner was Colorado's 2019 seventh-round pick (202nd overall) and signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Tuesday. The 23-year-old spent the 2023-24 season with 29 games played split between the Colorado Eagles (AHL) and Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) and has had an +.910 SV in his first three years with Utah.

Toews missed Game 4 due to an illness but travelled with the Avalanche to Dallas and will play in Game 5 on Wednesday after practicing in full. The 30-year-old's absence in Game 4 was a massive loss as he has been a lock in Colorado's top pair and has a goal, six points and a +4 plus/minus in eight games while averaging 23:45 TOI/GP.