The idea of Connor Hellebuyck in Colorado is the kind of thing that gets Avalanche fans fired up fast.
Put the NHL’s best goalie behind a roster that already features Nathan MacKinnon, the league’s top defenseman, and one of the sport’s true heavyweights, and the picture gets ugly for everybody else. On paper, that’s as intimidating as it gets.
But there’s another side to this, and it’s the part that should make Colorado pause. Hellebuyck could be a massive win in the short term and a headache later on.
The biggest issue is time. Hellebuyck is under contract through 2031, and if he spent the rest of that deal in Colorado, he could block the path for the next wave of goaltenders. That matters because the Avalanche have prospects in the pipeline, including Ilya Nabokov, along with Trent Miner and Nikita Novosyolov.
If Nabokov develops into a legitimate NHL starter, what does that look like with Hellebuyck already holding the crease? Would Nabokov just wait around as a backup until 2031?
That’s the core problem here. A move that looks perfect today could create a logjam tomorrow.
None of that changes the fact that Hellebuyck would be a huge immediate upgrade. Colorado has never really had a true, established No. 1 goalie in the way this deal would provide. He’d give the Avalanche exactly that, and he’d do it right away.
For the next two or three seasons, that kind of addition would be a no-brainer.
The question is what happens after that. Hellebuyck is 33, and there’s no guarantee he keeps performing at an elite level deep into the back half of that contract. If Nabokov is ready to step in around 2028 or 2029, Colorado would then have a tricky decision on its hands, especially if Hellebuyck’s play starts to slip.
Moving him later would not be simple. And once Hellebuyck is in the picture, the Avalanche might also feel pressure to deal one of their young goalies for help elsewhere.
That only matters, of course, if the organization truly believes Nabokov and the rest can become starting-caliber NHL goalies. If not, then the whole debate changes.
For now, Hellebuyck is on the market. Whether Colorado has a realistic shot is a separate question. But if there’s a real path to get him, the Avalanche would have to consider it.
In Other News...
Former Avalanche Pick Tyson Jost Is Fighting For His NHL Future
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Jost arrived in Nashville via waivers from Carolina and became part of a career that has now wound through Colorado, Minnesota, Buffalo, Carolina and Nashville. For the Avalanche, he remains one of the more familiar names from a previous era, and this latest camp invite is another reminder that his future in the league is still up for grabs. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Prospect Debate Is Back With One New Name To Watch
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The list is not short, and it includes a mix of familiar development bets and a few players who could force the issue if their progress keeps trending the right way. Sean Behrens, Ilya Nabokov, Alex Gagne, TJ Hughes and Matthew DiMarsico are all part of that debate, while goaltender Nikita Novosyolov brings a different kind of intrigue as a possible surprise addition to the mix. For a team that has steadily fed talent into the NHL, the question is no longer whether the Avalanche will find more debutants, but which one makes the strongest case first. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Still Have One Big Decision To Make In Net
The Avalanches goaltending picture remains one of the biggest questions hanging over the offseason, even after a season that showed why the position still matters so much in Colorado. MacKenzie Blackwood entered the conversation with expectations tied to his health and upside, while Scott Wedgewood ended up giving the club steady, convincing work that forced the issue in a way few saw coming.
Carter Hutton and Jesse Montano both pointed to Blackwoods injury as a major factor in how the season unfolded, and the bigger question now is whether Colorado can confidently hand him the outright No. 1 job. Wedgewoods performance gave the Avalanche a viable alternative, but the team still wants more consistency in net before it can feel settled about who should carry the load moving forward. [Read more 🡒]