Fabian Lysell arrives in Colorado with a fresh start and a real opening to change the direction of his career.
The Avalanche picked up the wing in a late-June trade with the Bruins, sending Ivan Ivan to Boston in return. On paper, it was a surprising swap: Lysell is a former first-round pick, but he still hasn’t logged much NHL time.
Most of his last four seasons after the draft were spent with Providence, Boston’s AHL affiliate. In 219 games there, he put up 57 goals and 106 assists. That’s the resume Colorado is betting on as it tries to see whether there’s more to unlock.
He is not under contract right now, but he’ll have a chance to make his case early, especially in training camp. Lysell is known for his speed and for having offensive upside, and multiple sources have pointed to fit as the issue in Boston. The sense was that he simply wasn’t the right match for the Bruins, which helped bring his time there to an end.
That’s where the intrigue starts for Avalanche fans. The idea isn’t that Boston made a bad pick and Colorado is getting a finished product. It’s that the player and the organization never quite clicked, and a new setting might be enough to get him moving in the right direction.
If Lysell sticks in Colorado, the most likely role would be on the fourth line. Parker Kelly is listed as the fourth-line left wing, but Lysell could see time there as well.
He also could fit on the right side in place of Zachary L’Heureux, depending on the matchup. The flexibility of that line gives him a real chance to work his way into the picture.
From the Avalanche’s perspective, it’s a low-risk move. They gave up Ivan, a former undrafted player who appeared in 49 games for Colorado, including 40 in 2024-25, and finished with five goals and four assists. Ivan was probably not headed for a big NHL role unless injuries opened the door.
Now the spotlight shifts to Lysell. If he responds in camp, Colorado may have found a player who can help.
If not, he likely settles in with the Eagles and waits for another chance to come up. Either way, the Avalanche are taking a swing on a former first-round talent with something to prove.
In Other News...
Avalanche Cannot Afford To Let Cale Makar's Extension Drag Out
The Avalanche have a major contract decision looming with Cale Makar, and the timing may matter as much as the money. Colorado is weighing whether to get an extension done before Sept. 16, when the NHLs new collective bargaining agreement takes effect and changes the rules for re-signing your own players. Under the new system, the maximum term drops from eight years to seven, which could reshape both the structure and overall value of a deal for one of the leagues premier defensemen.
Makars camp also has reason to think short term could be appealing, since a shorter bridge would leave open the chance to cash in again as the salary cap rises in future years. From the Avalanches side, there is a strong argument for getting ahead of that and locking in a longer commitment now, especially with projections showing the club could have plenty of room later if it needs to pay a premium. The longer this drags out, the more Colorado risks finding itself negotiating under a less favorable set of rules. [Read more 🡒]