The Colorado Avalanche don’t just pay for penalties in the standings - they pay for them in dollars, too.
A recent study by Casino.org put a number on the cost of sitting in the box, and Colorado came in second in the league at $369,840. That total is based on player salaries and the minutes they spent penalized, with the Avalanche piling up 372.6 minutes shorthanded across 221 infractions.
That means Colorado was effectively spending $993 for every shorthanded minute it played. Not ideal when the whole point is to avoid being down a man in the first place.
The only team that spent more was Boston, which topped the list at over $438K last season. The Bruins’ penalty bill worked out to $1,055 per minute in the sin bin.
Still, the Avalanche’s penalty problems haven’t turned them into a bad defensive team. Far from it.
They allowed 17 power play goals last season, a mark that landed in the bottom third of the league. For comparison, the Anaheim Ducks gave up a league-high 32.
Colorado is hoping that side of the ledger holds steady this season. The team can’t lean entirely on its offense, so the plan is for a more balanced formula built on defense and dependable scoring.
That’s where players like Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, Logan O’Connor, and Parker Kelly come in, giving the club more reliability on the defensive side. And with Cale Makar and Devon Toews anchoring an elite blue line, the Avalanche should have plenty of stability heading into 2026-27.
Maybe next offseason’s numbers will show a little less money disappearing into the penalty box.
In Other News...
Cale Makar Gives Avalanche Fans A Reason To Worry Before Opening Night
Cale Makar was on the ice by himself for about 30 minutes with the Avalanche skills coach at a recent practice, but he did not take part in the main group session. He then missed the next days skate, which immediately put his status on the radar as Colorado moves closer to opening night.
There has been no official word confirming an injury, and the uncertainty has only fueled questions about whether this is a minor issue or simply a careful ramp-up after his contract extension. For a team built around Makars presence at full speed, even a brief absence is enough to make fans pay close attention. [Read more 🡒]
Ilya Nabokov Now Carries A Huge Avalanche Future Question
Colorados prospect picture is still being sorted out heading into the 2026-27 season, and Ilya Nabokov sits right at the center of it. The 23-year-old goalie was ranked No. 1 in Mile High Hockeys list of the top 25 Avalanche prospects under 25 as of Sept. 1, 2026, a nod to both his track record and the organizations belief that he can become a major piece down the line. For now, the expectation is that hell spend the season with the Colorado Eagles, giving the Avalanche a closer look at how his game translates from the KHL to North American ice.
What makes Nabokov so intriguing is also what makes his path so uncertain. Goaltenders can look promising on paper and still need time to adjust to the smaller rink, the pace, and the different demands that come with life in this part of the game. Colorado clearly sees enough there to place him at the top of its prospect rankings, but the real question is how quickly he can turn that upside into something usable for the Avalanche when the stakes get much higher. [Read more 🡒]
Fabian Lysell Gets The Fresh Start Colorado Fans Will Watch Closely
Fabian Lysell is getting a reset in Colorado after the Avalanche acquired the former first-round pick from Boston in exchange for Ivan Ivan. It is the kind of move that fits a team willing to bet on upside, and it puts a player with obvious skill but a checkered development path into a new setting where the details around preparation and professionalism matter as much as pure talent.
For the Avalanche, the appeal is straightforward: Lysell still has the kind of ability that made him such a prized prospect, even if maturity and consistency have complicated the climb so far. Colorados emphasis on leadership and accountability should give him a supportive place to sort through that next step, and it will be worth watching how he handles the competition for a roster spot in an organization that has little patience for wasted talent. [Read more 🡒]