Colorado Avalanche News

Ludvig was placed on waivers by Pittsburgh on Friday and has been claimed by the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. The 24-year-old defenseman spent his entire rookie season in 2023-24 with Pittsburgh and had three goals, five points and 47 PIMs in 33 games played.

Lehkonen is expected to miss the start of the regular season due to offseason shoulder surgery. According to head coach Jared Bednar, they are trying to give him as long as they can without contact, but once he's cleared it won't be long before he returns to the lineup. With Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin both expected to miss the start of the season, newcomers Calum Ritchie and Nikolai Kovalenko could get a look in the Avalanche top-6 early on.

Lehkonen underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason and will not be a full participant in Avalanche training camp. At this point, there's no firm timeline for his return to the Avalanche lineup. Lehkonen should be a back of your roster IR stash in Fantasy Drafts this fall.

Phillips spent 2023-24 with two separate organizations (PIT, WASH) but has found himself a home for the 2024-25 season after signing a one-year, two-way contract with Colorado on Friday. The 26-year-old has torn up the American Hockey League for seasons but has still struggled to find a home in the NHL and only produced a goal and five points in 31 games played in 2023-24.

Kylington will leave the Calgary Flames after five successful seasons after the defensemen signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with Colorado on Monday. The 27-year-old made headlines in 2023-24 after he successfully returned to the NHL after a nearly two-year mental health hiatus. In 33 games played in his return, he had three goals, eight points, and 12 PIMs in 33 games with the Flames.

Mandolese was acquired just a day before alongside a 2025 7th round pick from Ottawa for a 2025 6th round pick and has now signed a one-year, two-way contract to stay in Colorado. The 23-year-old goaltender appeared in 23 games for Belleville (AHL) in 2023-24 and had a 3.53 GAA to go alongside his .918 SV%.

Colorado added to its already deep goaltending depth by adding Kevin Mandolese and a 2026 7th round pick from Ottawa for a 2026 6th round pick. The 23-year-old appeared in three NHL games with Ottawa in 2022-23 but spent the majority of the 2023-24 season with Belleville (AHL) picking up a 3.07 GAA and .901 SV%.

Ritchie was the No.27 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old forward had 80 points (28G / 52A) in 50 games with the Oshawa Generals (OHL) last season and added another 30 points (8G / 22A) in 21 playoff games.

Aarnodt will return to Colorado for a third season after he signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Tuesday. The 26-year-old undrafted defenseman joined Colorado from Minnesota State University (Mankato) in 2021-22 and had six goals and 14 points in 60 games played in 2023-24 with the Eagles (AHL).

Bradley was Colorado's 2020 7th-round pick (203rd overall) and signed a two-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday. The 22-year-old just completed his third season at the University of Connecticut (NCAA) and had 11 goals and 22 points in 31 games.

Colorado added to its depth on Monday by signing Parker Kelly to two-year deal worth $1.65 million ($825K AAV). The 25-year-old had a career year in 2023-24, with eight goals, 10 assists, 30 PIMs and 86 SOG in 80 games played.

Joel Kiviranta will return to the Avalanche after a successful first season with Colorado after signing a one-year contract extension on Monday. The 28-year-old left-winger appeared in 56 games with Colorado in 2023-24, scoring three goals, nine points, 12 PIMs and 48 SOG.

MacDonald will return to Colorado where he spent three seasons between 2020 and 2023 after signing a two-year, two-way contract on Monday with the Avalanche. The 31-year-old hybrid defenseman broke his career high in goals (7) in 2023-24, and finished with nine points and 23 PIMs in 34 games played.

Colorado completed its defensive core on Monday by signing Calvin de Haan to a one-year contract worth $800,000. The 33-year-old veteran defenseman spent 2023-24 with Tampa Bay and had three goals, 10 points, 22 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus in 59 games played. Colorado will be de Haan's fourth team in four years.

Drouin will return to Colorado for a second season and his 11th NHL season after he signed a one-year, $2.5 million extension with the Avalanche. The 29-year-old resurrected his career in 2023-24 by signing a one-year, $825,000 contract and put up a career-high 56 points (19G/37A) in 79 games played.

Mittelstadt was flipped for Bowen Byram on March 6th and had 10 points (4G / 6A) in 18 games with the Avalanche following the deal. He looked much better in the postseason, where he had nine points (3G / 6A) in 11 games. The 25-year-old should continue to serve as the Avalanche's No.2 centre behind Nathan MacKinnon in the 2024-25 season and has back-to-back 55-plus point seasons.

Cogliano announced Friday that Colorado had offered for him to return for an 18th NHL season but the 37-year-old felt it was his time to hang up the skates as he retired after 17 seasons and 1294 NHL games. In his final NHL season in 2023-24 with Colorado he had six goals and 19 points to add to his 190 career goals and 464 career points. Cogliano is one of eight players in NHL history to have an Iron Man streak of 800+ games.