Former Avalanche forward Joel Kiviranta has already settled on a new number for his return to Dallas.
After spending the last three seasons in Colorado, Kiviranta is back with the Stars for 2026-27 and will wear No. 22, a number he has never used in his NHL career. He previously wore No. 94 with the Avalanche and No. 25 during his first run in Dallas, but neither of those options will carry over this time. No. 94 is still open in Dallas, while No. 25 is worn by Arttu Hyry.
Kiviranta is the first former Avalanche player to have his number set for next season, but there are still plenty of moving pieces around Colorado.
Rookie forward T.J. Hughes will wear No. 13 with the Avalanche after that number opened up when Valeri Nichushkin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Jaden Schwartz also appears to have locked in his number, as he was recently seen at Family Sports with an Avalanche helmet showing No. 9.
That would line him up with the number he wore when he entered the NHL with the St. Louis Blues.
The Avalanche still have not announced numbers for Fedor Svechkov, Zachary L’Heureux or Noah Juulsen. Svechkov wore No. 40 in Nashville, L’Heureux wore No. 68 and Juulsen wore No. 47 in Philadelphia, and all three of those numbers are available in Colorado.
Fabian Lysell is another name to watch. He didn’t appear in an NHL game for the Boston Bruins in 2025-26, but if he gets a shot with the Avalanche this season, he’ll need a new number because No. 23 is retired at Ball Arena in honor of Milan Hejduk.
There’s also uncertainty around the three other forwards who departed from Colorado. Nichushkin likely won’t wear No. 13 in Columbus, since nobody has worn it there since the late Johnny Gaudreau had it for two seasons. Ross Colton and Jack Drury, meanwhile, were traded to Nashville and may have to sort out different numbers, since their No. 20 and No. 18 are currently unavailable with the Predators, even though those numbers could still become options if the current holders give them up.
In Other News...
Cale Makar Sends A Clear Message About Colorados New-Look Roster
Cale Makar did not spend much time soft-pedaling what went wrong for the Avalanche after a strong regular season gave way to a disappointing playoff exit. He acknowledged the frustrations that came with the ending and the reality that Colorado had to absorb a tough lesson after a year that suggested a deeper run was there for the taking.
Now the focus shifts to a roster that has changed quite a bit since then, with trades and free-agent additions reshaping the group around Makar. Even with the different look, his message was clear: the standard in Colorado has not moved, and neither has the expectation that this team should be in the Stanley Cup conversation again when the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Face A Painful Roster Debate Around Cale Makar And Depth
The Avalanche are staring at one of those roster questions that can shape everything that follows, because the business side of the next few seasons is starting to press against the hockey side. Artturi Lehkonen and Cale Makar are moving toward contract decisions, and Colorado also has to sort through upcoming free agents such as Nicolas Roy, Brent Burns and Scott Wedgewood while keeping an eye on a cap picture that could tighten quickly.
Makar is the obvious centerpiece of the discussion, but the larger issue is how much room the Avalanche can preserve around him without thinning out the supporting cast that makes the lineup work. It is the kind of debate that can look simple from the outside, keep the star and figure out the rest, but for Colorado it is tied to depth, flexibility and a series of choices that may not all fit neatly together. [Read more 🡒]
Cale Makar And Colorado Are Running Out Of Time On One Decision
Cale Makar and the Avalanche are staring down a contract decision that carries more weight than the usual star extension. With the calendar moving toward the middle of September, Colorado still has a narrow window to lock in an eight-year agreement before the leagues new labor rules shorten the maximum term, turning what is normally a straightforward business item into a real franchise moment.
For the Avalanche, the choice is bigger than just years on a page. An eight-year deal would tie Makar to the organization for the long haul and shape how his place in team history is remembered, while a shorter arrangement would leave more questions about the future and could affect how Colorado manages its roster in the seasons ahead. No agreement has been reported yet, so the clock keeps ticking on one of the teams most important calls. [Read more 🡒]