Who will be the next Avalanche player to hear his name called for an NHL debut in 2026-27? That question has become a familiar summer exercise around Mile High Hockey, and this year’s list has a little of everything: a long-awaited prospect, a goalie waiting for his chance, a couple of fresh college signings and the usual mystery pick that tends to show up when you least expect it.
Before looking ahead, it’s worth checking how the last round of predictions played out. Colorado went from an eye-popping nine NHL debuts in 2024-25 down to three forwards making their first appearances in 2025-26.
Two of those names were on the radar from the start. Taylor Makar was among the early recalls and wound up playing 12 NHL games, while Russian import Zakhar Bardakov, signed out of the KHL, made the roster out of camp and appeared in 60 games.
The one true surprise was Tristen Nielsen, a 25-year-old AHL veteran who got into four games and logged his first NHL action.
That was enough for the Mile High Hockey crew to nail the broad prediction of two to three Avalanche debuts last season. The bigger question now is whether they can repeat that kind of hit rate in 2026-27.
At the top of this year’s candidate list are three familiar names who have been waiting for their turn. Sean Behrens has shown up in these discussions for four straight years, and with one year left on his Entry Level Contract, the question is whether he finally gets into a game.
Ilya Nabokov is another player inching closer to Denver; drafted in 2024, he now has an NHL contract and is expected to play in North America this season. Alex Gagne is also in the mix after nearly getting his debut during the 2026 playoff run, so it would not be a shock to see him get a call sometime this season.
The newest college free agent signings also look like strong bets. TJ Hughes, who was recently at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase taking press photos in Avalanche gear, is described as a near lock. Matthew DiMarsico should be right there as well after both players debuted for the Colorado Eagles in the spring and did enough to make a positive impression heading into 2026-27.
And then there’s the wildcard. Every year, someone sneaks in from outside the obvious group - maybe a veteran AHL player finally gets his reward, maybe a college free agent works his way into the picture in the spring, or maybe a prospect turns pro after his NCAA season.
This time, the surprise pick is goaltender Nikita Novosyolov. He sits low on the depth chart, but with the way things can unravel in net over a season, that door is never fully shut.
Colorado also leaned on then-departed depth goalie Isak Posch for insurance last year, so the idea of Novosyolov getting a look is hardly far-fetched.
In Other News...
Former Avalanche Pick Tyson Jost Is Fighting For His NHL Future
Tyson Josts NHL path has already taken plenty of turns, and the former Avalanche first-round pick is at it again. The unrestricted free agent center is headed to Nashvilles 2026 training camp on a professional tryout, giving him another chance to show he still belongs after spending last season with the Predators.
Jost arrived in Nashville via waivers from Carolina and became part of a career that has now wound through Colorado, Minnesota, Buffalo, Carolina and Nashville. For the Avalanche, he remains one of the more familiar names from a previous era, and this latest camp invite is another reminder that his future in the league is still up for grabs. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Still Have One Big Decision To Make In Net
The Avalanches goaltending picture remains one of the biggest questions hanging over the offseason, even after a season that showed why the position still matters so much in Colorado. MacKenzie Blackwood entered the conversation with expectations tied to his health and upside, while Scott Wedgewood ended up giving the club steady, convincing work that forced the issue in a way few saw coming.
Carter Hutton and Jesse Montano both pointed to Blackwoods injury as a major factor in how the season unfolded, and the bigger question now is whether Colorado can confidently hand him the outright No. 1 job. Wedgewoods performance gave the Avalanche a viable alternative, but the team still wants more consistency in net before it can feel settled about who should carry the load moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Could Face A Massive Center Debate Sooner Than Fans Think
The Avalanche may not be thinking that far ahead just yet, but the center picture could get complicated in a hurry by 2028. Brock Nelson is set to reach the end of his deal then, and his role in Colorado will depend on how he performs between now and that summer, while the kind of roster flexibility the front office wants to preserve could become just as important as the minutes Nelson logs down the middle.
A bigger question could emerge if Auston Matthews ever becomes available, though even that possibility comes with plenty of moving parts. His contract demands would be a major hurdle, and any discussion about chasing him would also hinge on health, making this less a prediction than a scenario the Avalanche will have to keep in the back of their minds as the years unfold. [Read more 🡒]