Blackwood was on the ice Monday but won’t travel with the team for their one-game trip to Los Angeles. With him unavailable, expect Scott Wedgewood to start and Trent Miner to serve as backup. Blackwood’s status for Thursday’s home opener vs. Utah is also in doubt, though his participation in Monday’s practice is an encouraging sign that the injury isn’t long-term.
Colorado announced Wednesday that starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood will be out week-to-week as he nurses a lower-body injury. The Avalanche are expecting their starter to be ready around the start of the regular season and will lean on Scott Wedgewood in the meantime. If Blackwood is forced to miss any time, it will be a massive loss for the Avalanche after he posted a 22-12-3 record, alongside a 2.33 GAA and .913 SV% last season after being acquired from San Jose.
Gagne was a former 6th-round pick (2021) with Tampa Bay but failed to sign an entry-level contract with the Lightning and has now signed a two-year entry-level contract with Colorado. The 23-year-old defenseman will join the Colorado Eagles (AHL) after a successful senior season where he captained the University of New Hampshire (NCAA) in 2024-25 with four goals and 17 points in 35 games played.
After a short two-game showing with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2024-25, Domenick Fensore has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract to remain a Hurricane for the upcoming season. The 23-year-old puck-moving defenseman took a step forward in 2024-25 with Chicago (AHL), putting up nine goals and 32 points alongside his 39 PIMs in 67 total games played. He is expected to start 2025-26 in Chicago but will provide Carolina with some much-needed defensive depth.
Manson still had one year left on his current contract, but will extend his time with the Avalanche for two more years after he signed a two-year contract extension worth $3.95 million AAV ($7.9M total). The 33-year-old bruising defenseman only appeared in 48 games in 2024-25 due to injury, but still had a goal, 15 points and 28 PIMs. He is entering his fifth season with Colorado and is expected to return to his regular defensive role.
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 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.
Philadelphia added to their defensive depth right away to start the 2025 free agency after adding 28-year-old Noah Juulsen to a one-year, $900,000 contract. Juulsen appeared in 35 games with Vancouver in 2024-25, but failed to pick up a point alongside his 21 PIMs and -12 plus/minus. He will likely be Philadelphia's sixth defenseman heading into the 2025-26 season.
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.
