The Avalanche will get their preseason runway a little early this year, heading into a six-team Rookie Faceoff Tournament in September before training camp opens.
Hosted by the San Jose Sharks from Sept. 12-15, the 2026 showcase will bring together prospects from Colorado, San Jose, the Anaheim Ducks, the Los Angeles Kings, the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights. It’s a bigger field than the event had last year, when the Avalanche hosted a smaller version of the tournament.
For young players trying to separate themselves, this is the kind of stage that matters. The annual event often gives prospects a chance to leave a mark before camp even starts, and Gavin Brindley is the clearest recent example. He used his showing at the 2025 showcase to build momentum into training camp and eventually win an opening-night roster spot.
The club’s roster for this year’s event won’t be set until early September.
The schedule opens Saturday, Sept. 12, with Colorado facing Anaheim at 1 p.m. PT / 2 p.m.
MT. Later that day, Utah takes on Vegas at 3 p.m.
PT / 4 p.m. MT, followed by Los Angeles against San Jose at 5 p.m.
PT / 6 p.m. MT.
On Sunday, Sept. 13, Vegas meets Colorado at 1 p.m.
PT / 2 p.m. MT, Anaheim plays Los Angeles at 3 p.m.
PT / 4 p.m. MT, and San Jose battles Utah at 5 p.m.
PT / 6 p.m. MT.
There are no games scheduled Monday, Sept. 14.
The showcase wraps Tuesday, Sept. 15, with Utah against Los Angeles at 1 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. MT.
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Avalanche Day One Move Looks Like A Direct Answer Up Front
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Jaden Schwartz fit that need on day one, giving the Avalanche another experienced option in a spot where the team has been looking for answers. Around the league, other clubs were also busy trying to solve their own problems, from the Rangers retooling on defense to Edmonton making cap-related changes, but Colorados move stood out because it felt like a direct response to what the roster was missing. [Read more 🡒]
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Now Vegas is bringing him back into the fold after reshuffling its roster and opening a spot on the power play. The Golden Knights moved Pavel Dorofeyev to the New York Rangers, leaving a familiar lane for Olofsson to step back into a specialist role he knows well, and for Colorado its another reminder that the Avalanche have become part of the path for a winger other clubs still trust to finish in key moments. [Read more 🡒]
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Svechkov, in particular, is the name to watch as camp and the early part of the season unfold. The Avalanche are hoping he can push for a bottom-six role, and if he settles in quickly, it could ease the sting of losing Drurys steadiness and make the trade look a lot less like a subtraction than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]