The Colorado Avalanche are down to the wire with their season opener, and Monday brought a few more loose ends than answers. Colorado submitted an incomplete roster, with the final shape still to be determined before Wednesday’s opener.
Rookie T.J. Hughes is already locked into the lineup, but the rest of the forward group is still in flux as the Avs wait to practice today and get a better read on where some of their injured forwards stand in their recovery.
There’s also a new wrinkle on the uniform front. Icethetics rolled out its annual season preview video on YouTube and dug into jersey news across the league, including the Avalanche’s two new sweaters for this season: the Winter Classic jersey and the Hometown Remix. The report included what Icethetics says is strong intel on what Colorado has planned.
Elsewhere, one former piece of a once-popular Avalanche line officially called it a career on Monday, announcing his retirement from the NHL.
Around the league, the biggest move of the day came in a late trade between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets. Toronto added Kirill Marchenko from Columbus in a multi-player deal that also involved Matt Knies, and the timing couldn’t have been more dramatic with the Leafs set to open their season just over 24 hours later.
If everything goes according to plan, Toronto will skate into tonight’s opener with eight new forwards, a new No. 1 defenseman, a new starting goalie, and a new coaching staff.
Marchenko didn’t just arrive in Toronto, either. The Leafs signed him to a six-year deal worth $12.5 million AAV that begins in 2027-28. Full contract details were included in the report, along with the note that a former Avalanche forward is once again on the move.
In Other News...
Nicolas Roy Is Finally Settling In With The Avalanche
Nicolas Roys move to Colorado has brought him back together with a familiar face in Martin Necas, and the reunion has helped make the transition smoother than the usual mid-career change of scenery. After arriving in a trade from Toronto last season, Roy has found a steadier footing with the Avalanche, where the early adjustment has been eased by support from teammates and the organization around him.
Now preparing for his first full season with Colorado, Roy is entering a stage where comfort and consistency matter as much as talent. He has also had a front-row view of the next wave of players around the team, including young forward T.J. Hughes, a reminder that the Avalanche are balancing immediate expectations with the development of players who may shape what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Fans Just Got An Early Hint At Two New Looks
The Avalanche may be a ways off from making it official, but a new report has given fans an early peek at what could be coming down the pipeline for 2026-27. According to Icethetics, Colorado is expected to unveil two new primarily white jerseys, including one for the 2027 Winter Classic that would use an off-white base with burgundy accents.
The other design is said to be a Hometown Remix look built around two shades of blue and silver, giving the Avalanche a second fresh option for the same season. The team has not confirmed unveiling dates or final designs, so for now it is still a preview rather than a reveal, but it is enough to get jersey-watchers around Colorado looking ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Depth Is Under Pressure Right From Opening Night
The Avalanche are heading into opening night with little margin for error, leaning on a bare-bones 20-player roster and the familiar weight carried by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. That kind of setup can work when the stars are rolling, but it also puts a spotlight on the supporting cast sooner than most teams would prefer, especially when the regular season has barely begun.
T.J. Hughes is one of the depth names to watch after showing promise in the preseason, and Colorado may need that kind of contribution right away just to keep the lineup functioning at a high level. The larger concern is how long the Avalanche can stay effective and healthy while operating with so little depth, because the season has a way of exposing every thin spot on a roster. [Read more 🡒]