Patrick Kane is headed back to Chicago, and the Blackhawks are paying up to make it happen. Meanwhile, Jet Greaves avoided an arbitration hearing by landing a new deal with Columbus, and Colorado’s offseason chatter has turned into a full-on line-combination exercise.
On the Avalanche front, the first installment of a new series is underway, with the focus shifting to how Colorado could open the season up front. The idea behind breaking it into pieces is simple: there are too many possible looks to cram into one giant breakdown. That approach also leaves room for more scenarios later, instead of trying to force everything into a single marathon.
There’s also a note on Jack Johnson’s post-playing career, which has taken another turn. The interest there is still the same: rooting for him in whatever comes next.
Around the league, Greaves and the Blue Jackets reached an agreement just before Thursday’s arbitration hearing. The new extension runs three years and carries a $5 million AAV, a strong result for a goalie who had a great season in 2025-26.
And in Chicago, Connor Bedard got his wish. Kane, one of the defining names in Blackhawks history, is returning on a two-year contract worth $8 million per season.
It’s a big number, but Chicago’s cap situation gives them plenty of room, and the expectation is they won’t come close to spending all of it over the next two years. Whether Kane is making $5 million or $8 million, the larger picture doesn’t really change much.
In Other News...
Former Avalanche Favorite Tyson Barrie Starts A Fun New Colorado Chapter
Tyson Barries time in Colorado still matters to Avalanche fans because he was more than just a productive defenseman during his eight seasons here. With 75 goals and 232 assists before the 2019 trade, he helped shape the way the Avalanche played and became part of the deal that eventually brought Nazem Kadri to Denver, leaving a long trail of on-ice impact even after he moved on.
Barrie is now opening a different chapter with Chilly Ones, a beer company built around low-alcohol, low-calorie options that are meant to be light and easy to drink. The brand is already available in Canada and in select Colorado markets, which gives this new venture a local tie-in for Avalanche followers, even if the full reach of the business is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Cup Veteran Jack Johnson Just Took An Unexpected Hockey Turn
Jack Johnsons post-playing path has taken an unexpected turn, and it starts with a familiar name for Avalanche fans who remember his run to the Stanley Cup in 2022. After retiring from the ice and spending a brief stretch as a pro scout with the Vancouver Canucks, the former Colorado defenseman is moving into the next phase of his hockey life in a very different setting.
The new stop brings him back to his home state of Ohio, where he will work in a successful college hockey environment focused on player development. It is a notable first coaching job for a veteran who spent years on NHL blue lines, and it adds another layer to the long, winding career arc that has already included a championship, scouting work and now a bench role. [Read more 🡒]