Deen’s Daily: Avs 2025-26 Schedule; Quinn Hughes Rumors Squashed by Teammate; What Will Happen with Martin Necas?

The 2025-26 regular season schedule was released on Wednesday. When do the Avs first play at Ball Arena? Also, Martin Necas needs a new contract next summer. Or maybe he’ll get traded. Or maybe the Avs will play out the year without an extension. What will it be?

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — July 16.

Colorado Hockey Now

The Avs are starting the season on Oct. 7 on the road. Two nights later, they host the Utah Mammoth at Ball Arena to kick off the first of 41 home games in the last 82-game regular season before the new CBA.

You can see the full schedule below. I’ll dive deeper into it tomorrow with key dates, games, etc.

In my latest CHN Avalanche Mailbag, a lot of you asked about Necas, and his future with the club. Necas has one year remaining at $6.5 million before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Avs traded Mikko Rantanen last January because they couldn’t reach a deal with him and there was the risk of letting him walk for nothing. Surely, they’re thinking the same way with Necas, right?

I answered questions about that, and more, in the second part of the Mailbag. I’ve also linked Part 1 below for you to review if you haven’t already.

Read More: Avalanche Mailbag 2.0: Necas’ Next Contract, Trade Value, and Bottom-Six Depth Uncertainty

Read More: Avalanche Mailbag 1.0: Stanley Cup Window, Offseason vs Mid-Season Trades, and the Landeskog Effect

Around The NHL

New Jersey Hockey Now: Tyler Myers, teammate of Quinn Hughes in Vancouver, poured cold water on the rumors of Quinn joining his brothers Jack and Luke in New Jersey.

Montreal Hockey Now: One of the buy low UFA’s that I thought would be a good fit for the Avs is on his way to the Habs. Joe Veleno signed for one year on Wednesday.

Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings start the year with a lot of divisional action.

Boston Hockey Now: The Bruins host Brad Marchand and the Panthers on Oct. 21 — one of their more notable games of the season.

Florida Hockey Now: The Panthers host the Rangers in the Winter Classic on Jan. 2 in Miami. That’s going to be one heck of an NHL event.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins schedule is linked here.

Philadelphia Hockey Now: Fan of the Flyers? Their schedule is here.