Colorado has added to their minor league defensive depth on Sunday after they announced they had signed Christian Wolanin to a one-year, two-way contract. The 31-year-old journeyman defender joins his 7th NHL organization after spending 2025-26 with Providence (AHL), where he had seven goals and 31 points in 53 games played. He last appeared in the NHL with Vancouver in 2022-23.
Fensore, a third-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, will add some organizational depth to the Colorado Avalanche after signing a one-year deal. The 24-year-old defenseman spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 35 points (10G / 25A) in 60 games with the Chicago Wolves.
Hinostroza has become a reliable bottom-six forward who will bring his talents to the Colorado Avalanche on a two-year deal. The 32-year-old scored 18 points (6G / 12A) in 65 games split between the Minnesota Wild and Florida Panthers.
Beckman was drafted 75th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, but has only played 23 career NHL games. The 25-year-old forward scored 51 points (30G / 21A) last season in 68 games with the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL).
Colorado added some reliable depth to their blueline on the first day of free agency, signing Noah Juulsen to a two-year contract worth $2.2 million ($1.1M AAV). The 29-year-old defenseman played 52 games last season with the Philadelphia Flyers, averaging 13:49 time-on-ice and scoring 10 points (1G / 9A).
Schwartz spent the past five seasons with the Seattle Kraken and has opted for a change of scenery, signing a three-year, $9.75 million contract ($3.25M AAV) with the Colorado Avalanche. The 34-year-old veteran forward averaged 16:08 time-on-ice and scored 26 points (11G / 15A) in 50 games with Seattle.
Makar made his NHL debut in the 2025-26 season during a brief 12-game stint with the Avalanche. The 25-year-old forward, a seventh-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, scored 24 points (14G / 10A) in 52 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) last season and hopes to get a more prominent look in the NHL in 2026-27.
Lysell's time in Boston's ends after just 12 appearances after the forward was traded to Colorado for Ivan Ivan on Saturday. Lysell was Boston's 2021 1st round pick (21st overall) but never panned out as planned last appearing in the NHL in 2024-25. He spent all of last season with Providence (AHL), where he put up 17 goals and 42 points in 57 games played.
Burns is just 57 games away from tying Phil Kessel's iron-man streak and will get a chance to break that record after signing a one-year, $850,000 contract extension with Colorado on Friday. The deal includes $2 million in performance bonuses. Burns is entering his 23rd NHL season after an impressive first year with the Avalanche in 2025-26, where he picked up 12 goals and 35 points in 82 games played.
Kulak was acquired from Pittsburgh prior to last season's trade deadline and will remain with Colorado for five more seasons after signing a five-year, $4.5 million AAV contract extension. ($22.5M total) on Friday. The 32-year-old appeared in a league high 83 games in 2025-26, picking up a goal, 12 points and a -4 plus/minus throughout games with Pittsburgh, Edmonton and Colorado.
L'Heureux was drafted 27th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in the 2024-25 season, scoring 15 points (5G / 10A) in 62 games. That said, he saw some regression in 2025-26, splitting time between the AHL and the Predators, recording only 5 points (4G / 1A) through 25 games. The 23-year-old forward hopes to re-establish himself with his new team in Colorado and return to being a more prominent fixture at the NHL level.
Svechkov is a an offensively talented 23-year-old that was drafted 19th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. That said, his talent has yet to translate to being an effective contributor at the NHL level. He averaged 12:05 time-on-ice and scored 17 points (4G / 13A) last season in 70 games with the Predators.
Novosyolov is an undrafted goalie that has yet to play professional hockey in North America. The 21-year-old spent most of the 2025-26 season in the Supreme Hockey League (VHL), where he posted a 2.10 GAA and .932 SV% in 40 games (22-10-8) with Verkhnyaya Psyhma Gornyak.
MacKinnon left Game Three on Sunday late in the second period after suffering a lower-body injury. He returned early in the third period, but was used sparingly, spending most of the final frame on the bench. It's unclear if he will be able to return to his usual playing capacity in Game Four, but his presence will nevertheless be a positive sign for an Avalanche team trying to stave off elimination.
After getting off to a surprising and disappointing 0-3 deficit in their third-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Colorado Avalanche are expected to switch things up between the pipes, turning to Mackenzie Blackwood for the first time. The 29-year-old Blackwood has not played since May 13th, when he allowed three goals on 13 shots (.769 SV%) and was relieved by Scott Wedgewood in an eventual 4-3 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild. Blackwood made his postseason debut last year and has been inconsistent, posting a 2.81 GAA and .888 SV% in 10 career postseason appearances (4-4). The Avalanche enter Game Four on Tuesday as slight -109 road favourites.
After getting off to a surprising and disappointing 0-3 deficit in their third-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Colorado Avalanche are expected to switch things up between the pipes, turning to Mackenzie Blackwood for the first time. The 29-year-old Blackwood has not played since May 13th, when he allowed three goals on 13 shots (.769 SV%) and was relieved by Scott Wedgewood in an eventual 4-3 overtime win. Blackwood made his postseason debut last year and has been inconsistent, posting a 2.81 GAA and .888 SV% in 10 career postseason appearances (4-4). The Avalanche enter Game Four on Tuesday as slight -109 road favourites.
MacKinnon left Game Three on Sunday late in the second period after suffering a lower-body injury. He returned early in the third period, but was used sparingly, spending most of the final frame on the bench. The Avalanche had battled injuries in their third-round matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights and now, down 3-0, can ill-afford to be without their offensive superstar, MacKinnon.
Makar has missed the first two games of the Western Conference Final with an upper-body injury but is warming up and expected to return for Game 3 on Sunday. The 27-year-old superstar defensemen will make a welcome return as Colorado attempts to win its first game of the series. Makar has four goals, five points and +5 plus/minus in nine playoff games played thus far.
Despite posting a .902 SV% through the first two games of the series, Scott Wedgewood and the Avalanche find themself in a hole and down 2-0 as they head to Vegas for Game 3 on Sunday. Wedgewood has been solid all postseason despite Colorado's recent struggles, posting a 7-3-0 record, 2.30 GAA and a .912 SV% in 10 games played. He will look to get Colorado back in the win column after two close loses to the Golden Knights to start the series.
Makar was a full participant in Colorado's morning skate ahead of Game 2 but will remain out with an upper-body injury on Friday as the Avalanche host the Golden Knights. The 27-year-old superstar's absence creates a massive hole in Colorado's defence after he put up four goals and five points in their first nine playoff games while averaging 24:59 TOI.
