Colorado Avalanche sign Kevin Mandolese to one-year, two-way contract

The Colorado Avalanche announced Tuesday they’ve signed goaltender Kevin Mandolese to a one-year, two-way contract. According to PuckPedia the deal is worth $775,000 at the NHL level, $125,000 in the minors and also includes $150,000 guaranteed.

Mandolese’s new contract comes one day after the Avalanche acquired the 23-year-old netminder from the Ottawa Senators, along with a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.

Mandolese was originally a 2018 sixth-round pick of the Senators. He spent last season split between the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League and the Allen Americans of the ECHL. Mandolese posted a 10-9-2 record with the AHL’s Senators, along with a 3.07 goals against average and .901 save percentage (Sv.%).

The Blainville, QC native has spent the majority of his professional career in the minors, however made his NHL debut during the 2022-23 season. Mandolese appeared in three games for Ottawa, registering a 1-2-0 record and a .916 Sv.%.

On the international level, dating back to his junior days, Mandolese has represented Canada at the Under-17 and Under-18 tournaments in 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively.

As for the 2024-25 season, look for Mandolese to battle it out with Trent Miner for minutes with the Colorado Eagles, with the potential of a callup should an injury occur. The Avalanche have Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen set to be their tandem for next season. Colorado finished the 2023-24 season ranked 17th in the NHL allowing 3.07 goals per game. Meanwhile, the Senators move ahead with Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg as their NHL tandem, as they look to get back into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference next season.

Staying with the Senators, they also have Mads Sogaard and Leevi Merilainen under contract in 2024-25, so moving Mandolese to the Avalanche could have been an instance where management is doing right by the player and giving him an opportunity elsewhere to play consistent minutes at the AHL level.