The Colorado Avalanche could find themselves staring at a big decision in the summer of 2028. That’s when Brock Nelson’s contract is set to expire, and it could leave a major opening in the team’s top six.
At the same time, Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews could be headed for free agency.
If Matthews reaches the market and Colorado is looking for a Nelson replacement, the Avalanche might have a blockbuster option to consider.
On paper, the fit makes sense. Matthews would give Colorado a proven scoring threat behind Nathan MacKinnon, and depending on the circumstances, he could even slot ahead of MacKinnon if needed. The Avalanche would also be getting a former 60-goal scorer who could rediscover that level if he gets back to full health.
But the idea rests on two major questions.
The first is whether Colorado is actually ready to move on from Nelson. The Avalanche’s second-line center will be 36 when his current deal ends, but there’s no sign he’s fading yet. He still looks like a player who will have a market for another contract.
Still, if the Avalanche decide for any reason that Nelson no longer fits, they could explore another direction.
The second question is whether Matthews even reaches free agency. The Maple Leafs will try hard to keep him, and if they don’t think a long-term deal is possible, they could look to trade him before letting him walk for nothing.
There’s also the possibility that Toronto and Colorado could work out a deal similar to the one the Maple Leafs made with the Vegas Golden Knights and Mitch Marner.
That said, Matthews would come with plenty of risk. He’s coming off an injury-plagued season and posted his worst statistical year. His campaign ended early because of a knee injury that required offseason surgery.
If he gets back anywhere near his old 60-goal form, though, the Avalanche would suddenly have a very dangerous second-line center.
The problem is money. Matthews carries a $13.25 million cap hit right now, and if he wants to take less to join a contender like Colorado, that opens the door. If he wants to maximize his next deal, he could be priced out of the Avalanche’s range.
For now, that may leave Colorado better off sticking with Nelson for a couple more seasons unless circumstances change and the team decides it’s time to move on.
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Devon Toews Just Had A Very Colorado Sports Moment
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It was one of those only-in-Colorado scenes that reminds you how tightly the states sports world can knit itself together, from the Avalanche to the Rockies and, of course, the Broncos. Even with recent reports swirling around the Broncos ownership group, Toews trip to the ballpark served as a lighter snapshot of that shared local spotlight, with one of the Avalanches most recognizable players spending an evening right in the middle of it. [Read more 🡒]
Cale Makar Has A Chance To Enter Rare NHL History
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For Makar to get there, the season would have to be extraordinary in every phase, with offense and defense both strong enough to make him impossible to ignore. Even then, the Hart Trophy is a voter-driven race, and he would still have to separate himself from names like Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon, which is what makes the possibility so intriguing and so difficult to pull off. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Leave Jared Bednar Question Unsettled Entering Key Offseason
Jared Bednars contract situation has become one of the quieter storylines around the Avalanche as the offseason gets underway, but it carries real weight for a team that has spent the better part of a decade under his direction. Joe Sakic said there is no urgency to get an extension done, even as the sides continue talking, and that reflects a certain calm around a coach who has been on the bench since 2016 and helped guide Colorado to a Stanley Cup title in 2022.
Bednar is heading into the final year of his current deal, which would normally add a little more edge to the conversation, but both sides seem content to let the process breathe. For now, the Avalanche are leaving one of their most important decisions unresolved as they turn toward a crucial offseason, with the expectation that discussions will keep going without anyone forcing the issue. [Read more 🡒]