Fabian Lysell arrives in Colorado with a clean slate and a familiar question hanging over him: can he finally turn talent into production?
The Avalanche acquired the former first-round pick in late June, sending Ivan Ivan to Boston in the deal. Lysell went 21st overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, but he still hasn’t become the player the Bruins expected when they made that selection. If he had been taken in the second or third round, the conversation around his career might look different.
That said, this isn’t a case of a player lacking tools. Lysell has the kind of package teams chase - quick skating, strong puck skills and a release that can punish a goalie in a hurry. The issue that’s followed him, and the one that’s been documented for a while, is maturity.
Boston and Lysell seemed ready to part ways, and the move makes sense as a reset for both sides. The Bruins were prepared to move on, and Lysell needed a new environment. Sometimes that’s all it takes: a different organization, a different voice, a different fit.
Colorado might be the place where it clicks.
The Avalanche have built their identity around professionalism and leadership, starting with general manager Joe Sakic and running through the coaching staff, the players and the people behind the scenes. Captain Gabriel Landeskog sets the standard, and accountability is part of the daily routine. There’s also a strong sense of support in the room.
If you’re in that building, people have your back - and they expect the same in return. For a player coming off what he experienced in Boston, that kind of structure could matter a lot.
The Hockey News reported earlier this offseason that Landeskog has been working one-on-one with T.J. Hughes, who signed with Colorado late last season after a standout run at the University of Michigan.
Hughes also played well with the Colorado Eagles in the AHL. That sort of mentorship is the kind of thing that could help Lysell, too.
The upside is still there.
Colorado also moved on from another reclamation-style addition this offseason, trading Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets in June. Nichushkin was a key piece of the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup run, and now Lysell has a chance to become the next player who can swing games when it matters.
Every contender needs someone who can rise into a bigger role and bring something the lineup didn’t already have. Lysell has the skill set to be that player.
The bigger issue is what happens between his ears.
He’s on a one-year, two-way, prove-it deal, and the feeling here is that he can make it work if he keeps himself on track. The setup is there.
The culture is there. The organization is there.
And by all indications from camp, he’s started well.
Still, nothing will be handed to him.
T.J. Hughes is in the fight for a roster spot.
Gavin Brindley wants back in the mix. There are only so many openings, and Lysell will have to win one of them.
That competition may end up being the real story as the season approaches. Not Cale Makar’s new contract.
Not even the usual focus on Colorado’s established stars. The battle for those last lineup spots could decide a lot.
Lysell has the skating, the shot and the skill. He also has a fresh chance with a team that believes in giving players the support they need to succeed.
But the Avalanche can’t do the hard part for him.
The only person standing in Fabian Lysell’s way is Fabian Lysell.
And in Colorado, it’s going to be dog-eat-dog.
The question is simple:
Who wants it more?
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