Matthew DiMarsico didn’t arrive in the Colorado Avalanche organization with the usual draft pedigree, but he’s already done enough to get noticed. The 22-year-old forward finished No. 20 in Mile High Hockey’s Top 25 Under 25, and his climb into the system has been built on production, pace, and a style that fits neatly into the grind of pro hockey.
DiMarsico, listed at 6’0” and 181 pounds, is projected to start 2026-27 with the Colorado Eagles in the AHL. He was signed on March 30 to a two-year, entry-level contract that begins this upcoming season after joining the Avalanche as an undrafted college free agent out of Penn State.
The numbers from his final college season tell the story of why he drew attention: 37 games, 18 goals, 24 assists, 42 points. That was a new career high, and it helped put him on Colorado’s radar.
Over three seasons at Penn State, the Pennsylvania native also played a role in the program’s first Frozen Four appearance in 2025, when the Nittany Lions fell 3-1 to Boston University. The next season, he and 2026 first overall pick Gavin McKenna pushed Penn State back into the first round of the Frozen Four tournament before another 3-1 loss, this time to Minnesota-Duluth.
What makes DiMarsico intriguing is how he plays. He pressures the puck the right way, using his positioning and forechecking to force turnovers.
Offensively, he stays involved by following the play into the zone with his stick on the ice. In Colorado Eagles action, he also showed a knack for hanging around the crease, looking for rebounds and quick setups.
Add in the fact that his six-foot frame can move with surprising speed, and there’s a profile here that could work in a fourth-line role or even higher up the Eagles lineup.
His first taste of pro hockey came in early April, when he joined the Eagles and stepped into a lineup that was already loaded. Former head coach Mark Letestu had some hesitation about slotting him into the second line, but DiMarsico handled the jump just fine in seven regular-season games. He picked up his first point immediately, assisting on a Maroš Jedlička goal in his debut, then scored his first pro goal the next night on a Tristen Nielsen pass in the third period.
The playoff numbers were quieter - two goals and two assists in 17 games - but that didn’t erase the impression he made. DiMarsico is still very much in the mix as the Avalanche look at their next wave of young players, and he could see a few games with the big club this season. Among the undrafted college prospects in the system, he looks like one worth watching closely.
In Other News...
Avalanche May Have Found An Under The Radar Blue Line Option
Colorado added another depth option to its system with the signing of Domenick Fensore, a 24-year-old left defenseman who is expected to land with the Colorado Eagles in 2026-27. Fensore comes with some AHL mileage already, having played for the Chicago Wolves and made a lone NHL appearance with the Carolina Hurricanes, and he arrives in the Avalanche organization after a 2025-26 season that showed real growth.
Fensore set career highs in goals, assists and points last year and then stayed in the mix through 18 playoff games, the kind of workload that can matter for a player trying to carve out a path. For Colorado, the appeal is straightforward: a young defenseman with some pro experience, a left shot, and a track record that suggests there may still be a little more to unlock. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Suddenly Face A Cale Makar Debate Fans Never Expected
Even around a franchise that has shown a willingness to make bold, sometimes jarring moves, the idea of the Avalanche entertaining a Cale Makar trade still lands like a shock. Adrian Hernandez of Mile High Hockey raised the possibility while pointing to the reality that Makar, one of the most important players on the roster, carries significant leverage as contract talks loom and the team keeps one eye on how it manages its long-term cap structure.
The timing adds another layer, with a September 15 deadline shaping how teams can approach eight-year deals for unrestricted free agents before that option narrows. Colorados recent history has already taught fans not to rule out the unexpected, and while a Makar deal remains far from a certainty, the mere fact that it is part of the conversation speaks to how complicated the next stretch could become. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Were Right To Move On From Casey Mittelstadt
The Avalanches decision to move on from Casey Mittelstadt looks even more sensible with time. Colorado wanted him to be a top-six center, but after the trade to Boston, he settled in as a middle-six winger and produced like a useful secondary scorer rather than the difference-making pivot the Avalanche had in mind.
For the Bruins, the question now is how far they want to go to keep him. Mittelstadts 71-game season included 15 goals and 42 points, solid numbers for a complementary forward, but there is already speculation Boston could push for a four-year, $26 million extension. From Colorados perspective, thats exactly the kind of price tag that would have been hard to justify for a player who never quite matched the role the Avalanche expected. [Read more 🡒]