Brad Hunt is calling it a career.
The former Colorado Avalanche defenseman announced his retirement from professional hockey on Monday, closing the book on a run that included two seasons in the Avalanche organization from 2022-2024.
Hunt, 37, signed a two-year deal with Colorado and went on to play 47 games for the Avs in 2022-23. He chipped in four goals, six assists and 10 points at the NHL level, while also providing offense from the blue line for the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles with 21 points in 24 games.
His final season was spent entirely with the Eagles, and he produced one of the strongest offensive years of his career there. In 70 games, Hunt totaled 49 points and scored 16 goals.
A native of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Hunt’s NHL journey stretched across multiple teams. He appeared in 286 regular-season games with the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks and Avalanche, finishing with 26 goals and 86 points.
He also skated in five Stanley Cup playoff games over the course of his career, including one with Colorado.
That lone postseason appearance with the Avalanche came in a rough spot. In Game 7 against the Seattle Kraken, Colorado dressed seven defensemen and turned to Hunt as a forward because of injuries and a shortage of options.
He logged one shift, 41 seconds total, and the Avalanche fell 3-2. Hunt did not play in the NHL after that.
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Necas gave Colorado a strong regular season, but his playoff struggles have only sharpened the comparison to Rantanen, who had already built a strong postseason rsum in Denver. For Avalanche fans, the debate is no longer about whether the trade happened, but whether the return can ever make up for losing a winger who was built for the spring spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
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Colorado moved to bring him in on June 1, 2026, and the next step should give the club a clearer read on how far he can go. Novosyolov is expected to open the 2026-27 season with the Avalanches ECHL affiliate in New Mexico, where the adjustment to North American pro hockey will be part of the test. Goaltenders can take a while to sort themselves out, but if he keeps trending the way he has, this could be the start of a longer conversation. [Read more 🡒]