The Athletic’s latest prospect rankings are out ahead of the 2026-27 season, and the Colorado Avalanche did not land anywhere close to the top of the list.
That’s one of the bigger takeaways as August 21 rolls on, but it’s not the only storyline hanging over the league right now. A handful of notable restricted free agents still do not have contracts, and training camps are set to open in less than a month.
The clock is ticking on a group that includes some of the more recognizable names still waiting to get signed. The question now is simple: who gets across the finish line first?
There’s also a possible family angle brewing in Toronto. The Maple Leafs already have William Nylander in the NHL, while his brother Alex is with the Toronto Marlies. That naturally raises the question of whether Toronto could be looking at another chance to put brothers in the same organization.
Elsewhere around the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced their 2026 Hall of Fame class, and they did it with a flower.
In Montreal, the Canadiens are staring at a leadership change after Brendan Gallagher became a part of the Vancouver Canucks. That leaves the team in need of a new alternate captain, and there are a few names that could step into the role.
And in Boston, the Bruins have their own unsigned restricted free agent on the board with training camp less than a month away. He isn’t the biggest name in the current group of unsigned RFAs, especially with players like Cutter Gauthier and Adam Fantilli still without deals, but he remains an important piece for Boston.
In Other News...
Avalanche May Need Two Forward Answers Before Makars Next Deal
The Avalanche are already staring at one of the most important contract decisions on their roster, and it may not be only about Cale Makar. Colorado can map out a long-term extension for its star defenseman, but the front office also has to account for the futures of Artturi Lehkonen and Nic Roy, both of whom are headed for free agency and factor into the team's bigger budget picture.
Lehkonen brings a track record Colorado values, though his injury history complicates the conversation, while Roys market value could push his next deal into territory that matters for the Avalanches spending flexibility. Before the organization commits fully to Makars next contract, it may need a clearer sense of how much it will take to keep both forwards in the fold, and that makes the summer planning a little trickier than it first appears. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Have A Bigger Question Than Talent With Zach LHeureux
Zach LHeureux arrives in Colorado with the kind of profile that can make a front office lean in. The 23-year-old left winger has shown he can bring bite and finish, and the Avalanche saw enough to sign him to a two-year contract after his time with the Nashville Predators and Milwaukee Admirals. On paper, he gives them another option on the wing, and the range of possibilities is wide enough to matter.
But the bigger question around LHeureux is not whether the talent is there, it is how the Avalanche handle everything that comes with it. His history includes multiple suspensions at different levels, which makes his fit more complicated than a simple addition of skill and sandpaper. For now, his role for the 2026-27 season is still unsettled, somewhere between an AHL stop and a place as a middle-six scorer in Denver, and that uncertainty is as much about trust as it is about hockey. [Read more 🡒]
Jaden Schwartz Could Be Colorado's Smartest Move Or Riskiest Bet
The Avalanche added another proven piece to their forward group by signing Jaden Schwartz to a three-year contract, a move that fits the kind of win-now thinking Colorado has leaned on while trying to stay among the Wests elite. Schwartz brings the sort of versatility teams covet in the middle of a roster, along with a Stanley Cup ring and a history that includes Colorado College, giving the deal a built-in familiarity beyond the usual free-agent fit.
But this is also the kind of signing that invites a closer look because of the risk attached. Schwartz has missed 294 games over 14 seasons, and while his ability to adapt to different roles could make him valuable in Colorado, his availability has long been part of the conversation. The Avalanche are betting that his experience, his connection to assistant coach Dave Hakstol and his ability to slide into different spots outweigh the uncertainty that comes with adding a veteran whose track record includes so much time on the shelf. [Read more 🡒]