The Colorado Avalanche may be done making the kind of splashy moves that shape an offseason, but there’s still room for one more swing if the right fit shows up.
On the blue line, the picture is already pretty crowded. Colorado is rolling seven defensemen deep, though there’s still enough flexibility there that the Avalanche could dip into free agency if they decide a depth addition is worth the trouble.
Up front, though, the situation feels a little more open. The Avs have already seen Val Nichushkin, Ross Colton, and Jack Drury leave the organization, while Jaden Schwartz, Fedor Svechkov, and Zachary L’Heureux came in to replace some of that lost forward depth.
Colorado also brought in Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell from the Boston Bruins organization. Merkulov has been a strong AHL performer for the Providence Bruins and should get a real look in training camp, but he’s still more likely to wind up as a standout for the Colorado Eagles.
Lysell, a former first-round pick in the same draft class as Svechkov and L’Heureux, never quite got his game to fully click, but his rocket-skated style could be a real jolt in Denver if he can get his head on straight. Attitude issues defined much of his Bruins tenure.
That mix of uncertainty among the younger forwards leaves the door open for a classic buy-low move in free agency.
So with that in mind, the question becomes simple: what’s still out there, and which players might actually make sense for Colorado? The list is shorter now, but there are still a few names worth sorting through.
In Other News...
New Avalanche Defenseman Domenick Fensore Is Already Representing The Crest Well
Domenick Fensore has barely had time to settle in after signing with the Avalanche, but he is already finding ways to represent the crest beyond the ice. The new Colorado defenseman is set to join a crowded field of NHL players at Martire Family Arena for the Shoulder Check Showcase, a charity event that has become a summer stop for players who want to support a cause bigger than hockey.
The fourth annual showcase is organized by the HT40 Foundation and built around mental health awareness and human connection, with more than 25 NHL players expected to take part. Fensore will share the ice with names such as Trevor Zegras and Chris Kreider, giving Avalanche fans an early glimpse of a player whose off-ice presence already fits the kind of community-minded profile teams like to see from a newcomer. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Goalie Future Feels Bigger As Familiar Name Says Goodbye
The Avalanches long-term picture in goal got a little clearer this week, with a highly regarded prospect landing near the top of The Athletics latest list of the leagues best netminder prospects. For a team that has spent years valuing stability in the crease, any sign that a future starter might already be in the pipeline is the kind of development that naturally gets attention.
At the same time, a familiar name from Colorados recent past stepped away from the game, as Michael Hutchinson announced his retirement. And while that news sits on a different track entirely, it comes as the NHLs media landscape keeps shifting too, with Amazon Prime Video set to take over Wednesday Night Hockey in Canada starting in 2026-27 under a 12-year deal that replaces Sportsnet. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Fans Are Finally Getting A First Real Look At T.J. Hughes
T.J. Hughes is getting his first real turn in front of Avalanche fans this week, and it comes in a setting that is equal parts hockey and introduction. The Colorado forward is attending the 2026 NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago, where rookies and prospects gather at the Blackhawks Ice Center for media sessions and business education, giving teams and supporters a first look at players still trying to carve out their place.
For Hughes, it is also the first time he will wear an Avalanche jersey on the ice, a small but meaningful milestone after arriving in Colorado as an undrafted free agent following his collegiate career. The showcase should also clear up one lingering detail about his place in the lineup picture, including the sweater number he will carry as he begins this next chapter. [Read more 🡒]