Avalanche fans got a jolt of good news with the Cale Makar extension, and then the NHL tossed out another headline that immediately sent the rumor mill spinning.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, through his agent, released a statement saying he had requested a trade. Almost instantly, the chatter around the league swung back to the same old idea: Hellebuyck in Colorado.
The timing is what made the whole thing feel a little strange. Makar’s extension was effectively on the way to becoming official, and hours later Hellebuyck’s camp was publicly pushing for a move.
That was enough to revive the speculation, even if there’s nothing concrete tying the two developments together. For now, it’s just the kind of conspiracy theory fans and pundits love to kick around.
Still, the cap math is what keeps the idea alive.
Even if the Avalanche push Makar all the way to $20 million AAV, that deal wouldn’t begin until the 2027-28 season. For one more year, Colorado would still have Makar at $9 million. Hellebuyck, meanwhile, carries an $8.5 million hit.
Colorado has only $404K available right now, but that number could change if a trade opens up room. Move out a pair like MacKenzie Blackwood and Nic Roy, and the Avalanche would have just enough space to squeeze Hellebuyck under the cap. And with a projected $32 million in cap space next season, the financial side of this idea is at least workable.
On paper, it would be a classic win-now swing: an elite, gold-medal-winning goalie coming in to replace the kind of depth pieces Colorado could afford to lose. The trade would come with complications, though. Blackwood has a six-team no-movement clause, and Hellebuyck has his own no-movement protection as well.
So yes, this is still just a thought exercise. But with the Makar news and Hellebuyck’s trade request landing so close together, it’s hard not to notice the timing.
In Other News...
Cale Makar And Avalanche Are Closing In On A Massive Deal
The Avalanche have made keeping Cale Makar a clear priority, and the next step appears to be a long-term extension for the star defenseman as he heads into the final season of his current contract. Makar is due to become an unrestricted free agent next July, and the deal being discussed would not even kick in until the 2027-28 season, a reminder that Colorado is planning far beyond the immediate future.
Joe Sakic said he expects the contract to be wrapped up before training camp, which would remove one of the biggest lingering questions around the roster. If the sides finish the job, Makar could land among the NHL's highest-paid players, a fitting marker for a player who has become central to everything Colorado wants to do moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Prospect Francesco DellElce Is Suddenly Worth Watching Closely
Francesco DellElce has gone from interesting depth piece to a prospect worth tracking more closely in the Avalanche pipeline. The 21-year-old defenseman at UMass landed No. 7 in Mile High Hockeys Top 25 Under 25 for the organization on Sept. 1, a recognition that reflects both his upside and the way his game fits Colorados preferences on the blue line. Drafted 77th overall in 2025 as a re-entry, DellElce has drawn notice for the skating and leadership traits that can play in an Avalanche system that values mobility and quick decision-making.
For Colorado, the intrigue is not just about where he stands now, but how quickly he could move into the picture. DellElce is viewed as a promising prospect who may be in position to sign after his junior year, which gives the Avalanche a longer runway to watch his development while keeping him on the radar as one of the more notable names in the group. If his progress at UMass keeps matching the early impressions, he could become a much bigger part of the conversation than a mid-round pick usually does. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Fans Still Have One Huge Cale Makar Contract Question
Cale Makars next contract has been the biggest offseason item hanging over the Avalanche, and the wait now appears to be nearing an end. Elliotte Friedman reported that Makar and Colorado have agreed to terms on a new extension, a development that matters not just because of Makars status as one of the leagues premier defensemen, but because the Avalanche had been operating with the understanding that a deal would eventually get done.
Joe Sakic never sounded alarmed about the timing before the regular season, and this is the sort of situation Colorado expected to settle in due course. What remains unresolved is the part fans care about most right now, the length and financial shape of the contract, which is still being kept in the speculative zone until the full agreement is made public. [Read more 🡒]