The Colorado Avalanche have begun trimming their camp roster, and the latest moves send three defensemen to the Colorado Eagles’ AHL camp.
Domenick Fensore and Christian Wolanin both cleared waivers before being reassigned, while Saige Weinstein was also sent to the Eagles. With those transactions, Colorado’s roster is down to 38 players as the team continues working toward the NHL limit of 23.
Under NHL hockey operations guidelines, clubs can carry no more than 23 players on the roster from the start of the regular season through the trade deadline, with a minimum of 20 players, including 18 skaters and two goaltenders. Players on Injured Reserve do not count against that total.
The Avalanche have already played two preseason games, opening with a 4-1 win over the Utah Mammoth before falling 3-1 to the Winnipeg Jets on the road. They have two preseason games left before hosting the Los Angeles Kings in the regular-season opener on Sept. 30.
The Eagles camp is now under new leadership as the Avalanche continue sorting out their depth chart. Jussi Ahokas has taken over as head coach, replacing Mark Letestu, who was hired by the Vegas Golden Knights as an assistant coach. Ahokas becomes the fourth head coach in Eagles history.
"Jussi has done a great job with every team and every league he’s been a part of as a head coach, and we’re excited to welcome him into the Avalanche and Eagles family," said Avalanche Assistant General Manager and Eagles General Manager Kevin McDonald in the initial hiring's press release. "His track record of winning games in a variety of leagues and international tournaments is impressive, and he’ll be a great fit for our team in Loveland."
Ahokas, 45, most recently coached the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers from 2023-24 to 2025-26, and the club won at least 40 games in each season with him behind the bench.
In Other News...
T.J. Hughes Just Made Colorados Final Roster Call Much Harder
T.J. Hughes gave the Avalanche one more thing to think about in their preseason win over the Winnipeg Jets, piling up a hat trick and an assist in a performance that was hard to ignore. Jared Bednar even spent part of the game testing Hughes at center before moving him back to the wing, a small lineup wrinkle that said plenty about how Colorado is still sorting out the edges of its roster ahead of opening night.
For a team trying to settle on the right mix, Hughes night only made the competition tighter. Hes in the group battling for a spot, and a showing like this does not make the decision any easier for the coaching staff as the Avalanche weigh who fits best when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Trade Buzz Around Dylan Larkin Just Got More Real
Trade chatter around Dylan Larkin has taken on a little more weight around the Avalanche, with Elliotte Friedman reporting that the Red Wings center has expanded his list of preferred destinations to include Colorado. It is the kind of development that instantly gets attention in this market, where the Avs are always weighing whether there is another high-end piece out there who can fit their pace, their core and their championship timeline.
Colorado is also still sorting through its own early roster picture after its third preseason game, when T.J. Hughes made a loud case for himself with a hat trick and four points while battling for a spot. The Avalanche are in that familiar position of trying to balance present-day ambition with roster decisions at the margin, and any serious talk about a player of Larkins caliber only adds another layer to what could become one of the more closely watched storylines in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Are Betting On Zachary L'Heureux's Edge For The Playoffs
The Avalanche did not bring in Zachary L'Heureux for subtlety. They saw a forward who can hit, hunt pucks and make life miserable on the forecheck, the kind of edge that can matter when the games tighten up in the playoffs and the stars need a little more room to work.
The bet, of course, is that his aggression can be harnessed rather than repeated history getting in the way. Colorado is looking for him to grow into a steady NHL role, one that brings reliable effort at both ends and gives the lineup some useful muscle, but the challenge is turning that physical style into an asset the Avalanche can count on when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]