NHL Insider Frank Seravalli reported on Tuesday that the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association have agreed to an implementation schedule for CBA changes.

Sources: The #NHL and #NHLPA have agreed to a rolling implementation schedule for CBA changes.

Among them: the new playoff salary cap system will come into effect *this season* for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) September 2, 2025

The most notable of the bunch is the implementation of the new playoff salary cap system for the upcoming 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. That means teams won’t be able to bury players on LTIR until April and then activate them in the postseason despite being above the salary cap.

How could the Avs take advantage of this? Simply by having cap flexibility.

The fact that the Avalanche currently have cap space flexibility already puts them at an advantage. And if that cap continues to grow and accrue over the course of the season, they’ll be able to utilize it to their advantage at the trade deadline.

Most importantly, they can take advantage of teams struggling to remain cap compliant. And I’m willing to wager that no team hates this early implementation of the playoff salary cap system more than the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Earlier in the summer, I wrote that Colorado should target Evan Rodrigues from the Panthers. He looks like the obvious odd man out if the team needs to trade someone to remain under the cap ceiling. But then rumors started to circulate that Matthew Tkachuk was going to start the season on LTIR, and that was all but confirmed in recent weeks.

The Panthers suddenly have time to decide what to do. They don’t have to trade Rodrigues or anyone else to get under the cap right away. But they’ll have to eventually.

They won’t be able to play the LTIR game all season. If someone else gets hurt when Tkachuk returns, they can kick the can further down the road, but they won’t be able to do that all the way until the playoffs start. The roster, as currently constructed, with everyone healthy, is not cap compliant, and won’t be able to all dress at the same time in the regular season or playoffs.

Should the Avs still target Rodrigues? We’ll have to wait and see. It depends on how Victor Olofsson looks on the third line and if they decide they need an upgrade. And after that, they’ll have to determine if Rodrigues at $3 million until 2027 is the best option.

But even if not him, or the Panthers, the Avalanche’s cap flexibility will allow them an opportunity to get someone from a cap strapped team before the playoffs.

The next advantage for the Avs is confirmation from Seravalli’s report that new contract structures will not take effect until Sept. 16, 2026.

You can click the article below for more on why this helps the Avalanche. But in short, Cale Makar can sign a new deal under the current rules after July 1, but before Sept. 16. And the same rules will apply for all free agents on July 1, including UFA Martin Necas and RFA Jack Drury.

Read More: New CBA Changes Likely Won’t Affect Cale Makar’s Next Contract with Avalanche

The post NHL Insider Frank Seravalli Outlines CBA Timeline That Benefits the Avalanche appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

Basically, if a player has a lot to gain or lose from the next 82 games, I’ll cover it.

To me, there’s no bigger question right now pertaining to the roster than that of the third-line center role. Assuming no other trades or acquisitions, the first opportunity will go to Jack Drury, who the Avs acquiring just over seven months ago.

He’s the first of the season previews. Enjoy.

When the Avalanche were building towards their 2022 Stanley Cup championship, they had a handful of young centermen trying to solidify key roles in the lineup. Alexander Kerfoot was coming off of a four-year college career, while Tyson Jost and J.T. Comphers left school early to make the leap to the NHL.

They were fighting for open spots as the second and third line centers, and potentially even as a winger in the top nine.

In the end, it was Compher that became a mainstay on the third line. Kerfoot was later part of the package that brought in second-line center Nazem Kadri, and Tyson Jost was traded for Nico Sturm, who was expected to be the 4C for the Stanley Cup team before Darren Helm went above and beyond to keep that spot.

The Avs don’t have that type of depth this time. They barely have competition for their third line center role, and they don’t have many pieces to trade to make it more competitive. But they do have a 25-year-old Drury, who is about to get the best opportunity he’s gotten since entering the NHL.

Drury’s time with the Avs was somewhat up in the year when he was first brought in. General manager Chris MacFarland quickly labeled him a 3C, and that was the role he played. But it was mainly because the team lacked depth.

After trading for Brock Nelson, then sending away Casey Mittelstadt for Charlie Coyle, Drury quick became the fourth center on the depth chart. And he thrived in that role.

On a line with Parker Kelly and Logan O’Connor, Drury was a solid 4C and anchored the trio that gained ample trust with head coach Jared Bednar.

But then Coyle was traded, and nobody came in to replace him.

Drury is entering the final year of a contract paying him $1.725 million. He’ll be a restricted free agent at season’s end and he’s pretty much due for a pay raise no matter where he ends up in the lineup. But how much?

If the Avs bring in another center to kick Drury down to the fourth line, and he grows from the role he had late last season, he might already be able to nearly double his current salary. Or at least get closer to $3 million.

But if he holds the fort down on the third line, and that becomes his permanent role, expect his salary to be at least equal to the $3.5 million Compher made for years. That would probably be the floor of his new deal.

The biggest question is, what is Drury’s ceiling? Offensively, he had 27 points in 2023-24 but just 18 this past year split between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Avs. Can he give you 30–39 points in 2025-26? And consistently after that?

Can he develop into a better penalty killer, and someone that can be relied on to close out games? These are all part of what will determine the role he’s going to play for this team in the upcoming years.

And it all starts with the biggest opportunity he’s ever gotten. If nothing changes, Drury will start the season as the key two-way piece on a third line with wingers Victor Olofsson and Ross Colton, both of whom have an offensive touch to their game.

The post Season Preview: Jack Drury Has Opportunity to Solidify Key Avalanche Role appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

It’s hard to predict where this season is going to go in terms of roster build. Often times, the storylines in August or September have no bearing on the roster by January, let alone after the trade deadline and into the postseason. But that doesn’t take away from the competitive nature of some of the talent in the pipeline.

The Avs have struggled with developing homegrown talent and prospects in recent years. This is well documented. They’ve not had much luck with guys on entry-level contracts making an impact since Alex Newhook and Bowen Byram.

But they’re hoping that could change this year.

Here are four inexperienced skaters that could make a difference at camp, and earn a permanent role in the lineup.

Zakhar Bardakov

This is the most obvious choice. Not necessarily because he’s already the best of the bunch; he might be. But because general manager Chris MacFarland went out of his way twice in June to mention Bardakov as a possible opening night player without even being asked.

Bardakov is a center, which the Avs need. He’s also 24 years old and has years of experience playing against top talent in the KHL. So he’s not necessarily a true pro hockey rookie.

At his age, and coming from the KHL, he’s likely not interested in being a full-time AHL player. He’ll have to earn his roster spot and after that, trust with Jared Bednar to get the ice time he wants. But that starts with a strong first impression at training camp.

If Bardakov cracks the opening night roster, he’d likely play with Joel Kiviranta and Parker Kelly. That’s not a bad pair of hard-working players to learn from. It could help him develop his game and trust with the coach.

Nikita Prishchepov

This might be the most intriguing one, at least to me. I’d argue that, of all the AHL regulars who are probably going to get called up at some point this season, Prishchepov is the most talented. He’s got the most finesse, skill, and probably even potential to be a legitimate middle six point producer in the NHL.

But we’ve seen this story before. The Avs have had talented prospects come through the pipeline that haven’t developed into NHL regulars. Guys like Sampo Ranta, Shane Bowers, and Martin Kaut come to mind.

Could Prishchepov be different? I know the production wasn’t there, but he was up there with Ivan Ivan as one of the more impressive AHL depth options last season. He’s also been skating at Family Sports for weeks and working hard to really ensure he can make an impression at training camp.

Gavin Brindley

This is a player we probably should be talking about more. Brindley wasn’t just a throw-in from the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood deal. He’s a 21-year-old prospect that the Avs had high on their draft list in 2023 when they selected Calum Ritchie and Mikhail Gulyayev late in the first round.

Brindley ended up getting selected No. 34 overall — just seven spots after Ritchie and three behind Gulyayev.

Listed at just 5’8, 173 lbs, Brindley is going to have his work cut out for him. At that size, he’ll need to be strong on the forecheck and play a fearless brand of hockey to stick out, especially with Bednar.

He’s probably the only guy I’d put up there with Prishchepov in terms of raw talent.

Ivan Ivan

I mentioned him earlier, but if anyone was closest to achieving this goal in 2024-25, it was him. Ivan dressed in 40 games for the Avalanche in a depth role. He had flashes of offensive production early in the season, but that went away as the season progressed.

But just having that experience will work in Ivan’s favor. He did enough last year to earn Bednar’s trust, and he likely has the most insider information from this group on what the head coach wants from a depth forward. Can he capitalize on that?

The post 4 Prospects That Could Earn a Permanent Roster Spot With Avalanche appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

As players have started to trickle into town to prepare for training camp and the new season, the captain has led the charge for skates at Family Sports. Informal practices with Gabe Landeksog present and a full participant? That’s a nice change. It’s been four long years since we’ve seen this.

Among the others that have skated in recent weeks, Brent Burns is in town and on the ice. Brock Nelson also skated before making his way to Plymouth, Mich., for the USA Hockey orientation camp. And of course, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews are in Calgary for Canada’s camp.

The Avs also have quite a few younger players skating. Nikita Prishchepov has been a staple of these skates, as well as Zakhar Bardakov, Sean Behrens, and recently, Gavin Brindley.

Behrens will participate in the rookie showcase at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch coming up on Sept. 12. And Brindley, Colorado’s most recent trade acquisition, is hoping to find a role with the club after being part of the deal that sent Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

I’d suspect next week after Labor Day is when these skates will start to intensify on a regular basis. Perhaps that includes appearances from other notables like Mackenzie Blackwood, Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen, and Martin Necas.

The Avs open camp three weeks from today — on Sept. 18 at Family Sports. And per usual, all skates at that rink will be open to the public.

The post Landeskog, Burns Among Avalanche Participating in Recent Skates appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

He was in the booth for Altitude TV, offering his time to the franchise he loves, despite being an unrestricted free agent without a contract.

Even though training camp begins in less than a month, the 37-year-old defenseman is not ready to call it quits. He wants to continue playing, and he made that clear at the conclusion of the Altitude broadcast.

Was great to see and catch up with Erik Johnson tonight at Avs/DU alumni event.

One of the things he mentioned to me was what he also just said on the Altitude broadcast… he wants to play next season in the NHL, but is still waiting to see what the next few weeks bring.

— Jesse Montano (@jessemontano_) August 25, 2025

Johnson returned to the Avalanche on trade deadline day in March. He ended up appearing in 14 games down the stretch and another two in the playoffs. But the team didn’t re-sign him before July 1. Nor did he put pen to paper on a contract with Colorado or any other team after free agency began.

Avs general manager Chris MacFarland noted at the draft that he’d circle back with some of the team’s UFA’s if they were still available. He referenced Ryan Lindgren, who ended up signing with Seattle. He also mentioned Jonathan Drouin, the forward that departed for Long Island.

Joel Kiviranta ended up coming back, signing a contract earlier this month. But Johnson remains the one notable Colorado UFA still on the market. And I’m not entirely sure if the team has a spot for him after adding Brent Burns in July and re-signing Sam Malinski before free agency.

Colorado is one of the few teams with ample depth on the right side. They have Cale Makar and Josh Manson manning the top two pairs, which means one of Malinski or Burns is probably going to play on the left side. And with Keaton Middleton as an extra option, it would mean the Avs would have to carry eight defensemen if Johnson returns.

Could he land a professional tryout as a depth piece with the club? Perhaps. But I just can’t see it happening without another trade or move on the blueline.

Colorado is his preferred destination, but at this point, it might take another club to offer a contract or PTO for Johnson to be on a roster come opening night.

The post UFA Erik Johnson Still Wants to Play in the NHL appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

I didn’t really have expectations going into this thing. But I’ll admit, it was a lot of fun.

The Pioneers won 8-7 in an entertaining back and forth contest that ended in a shootout.

The Avs were always one of the newer teams in the league growing up. And they still technically are. But it’s nice to see they’ve actually got 30 years of history to celebrate now. They have three Stanley Cups, a long list of Hall of Famers, local legends, and several generations of fans. All of that was present at Magness.

Hearing the roar of the crowd for Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg’s introductions was really nice to see. They’ll forever be legends around here. But it was also great to see how well represented DU was in the crowd — how Denver has very much become a great college hockey town with a storied Pioneers club that has become one of the best in the nation. Matt Davis got an incredible cheer from the crowd when he was introduced. That was cool.

READ MORE: New CBA Changes Likely Won’t Affect Cale Makar’s Next Contract with Avalanche

As for the game, there were quite a few things that stuck out.

Dan Hinote was having so much fun. I mean the guy smiled when he was introduced before the opening puck drop and didn’t lose that smile for the entire game. You could see it from every seat in the house. Even when he was dropping guys behind the Avs net in a no-contact Alumni Game.

Andrew Cogliano still looks like he loves playing hockey. He scored the Avs’ first goal and did an overexaggerated celebration. It felt like he was out there for more than 20 minutes, which was probably good for some of the older guys. He was, of course, reunited with Darren Helm. But he got to play with Milan Hejduk and Forsberg.

Speaking of which, Hejduk with pads on looks like he did 15 years ago. He truly hasn’t aged. Forsberg on the other hand, has aged, but it’ll never not be fun to watch him skate. He was getting more competitive as the game went on. Davis stopped him on the breakaway during the second period.

The jumbotron was doing tributes to some of the team’s legends all throughout the game during commercial breaks. When they did Forsberg’s, the crowd erupted and celebrated the legend. It was much deserved.

I enjoyed seeing John-Michael Liles and Tyson Barrie out there. Those are two guys who played similar games, wearing the same number, for different eras.

Peter Mueller recently retired from professional hockey and he was here to be part of this thing. That was honestly one of my favorite random appearances. He’ll always be a story of what could have been. But in his short time with the Avs, he became a fan favorite from the moment he took off after the trade from Phoenix.

It was also funny that he wore No. 8 instead of No. 88. That was a mistake by whoever had the jerseys made.

If this is a sign for what’s to come this year, I’m excited to see what the team has in store when it comes to celebrating 30 years of Colorado Avalanche hockey.

The post Good Vibes and Memorable Moments at the Avalanche’s Alumni Game appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

None bigger than Peter Forsberg.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, 2003 Hart Trophy winner, and Hall of Famer is going to take the ice on Sunday, lining up alongside Milan Hejduk and Steven Reinprecht for the Avs’ alumni team.

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Other participants include Joe Sakic, Adam Foote, John-Michael Liles, Darren Helm, Kyle Quincey, Tyson Barrie, Mark Rycroft, and Troy Terry.

The event kicks off at 3 p.m. with a pre-game festival outside the arena, followed by a 5 p.m. scheduled puck drop.

My colleague Colleen Flynn and I will both be there covering the event. I’ll admit, it’s nice to have some bit of hockey in August.

The post Peter Forsberg is in Town! — Avalanche Prepare for Alumni Game at Magness Arena appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

During an appearance on Sportnet’s The FAN Pregame, Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong said the battle for the three goaltending slots for the upcoming Winter Olympics are wide open.

Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, and Sam Montembeault represented Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off with Binnington playing ever minute of action. They were also the only three goalies invited to Hockey Canada’s orientation camp next week.

“It’s the opposite of what people think,” Armstrong said on Wednesday. “I’ve told the other goaltenders that I’ve talked to that this is the most wide open competition on our team right now. There are probably eight or nine goalies that are fighting for three spots.”

READ MORE: Avalanche Depth Chart: Olofsson Fills Role, but Is He Enough?

Those other goalies weren’t confirmed, but it’s likely a list that includes Logan Thompson, Darcy Kuemper, Stuart Skinner, and Blackwood. If you’re stretching it out, a strong start for Cam Talbot or a breakout for Devon Levi could possibly put them into consideration, too.

So why no invites for the rest? For example, USA Hockey added Joey Daccord as a fourth invite to their camp in Plymouth, Michigan. Canada stuck to the same three from 4 Nations.

“It just didn’t make any sense to bring that many. So instead of picking one or two guys (that weren’t on the 4 Nations roster) and separating them from the other five or six not invited, we decided just to bring the three (from 4 Nations) but let everyone know that this is great competition,” Armstrong said. “It’s the most wide open part of the competition.

“I talked to those other goalies that aren’t there. They understand that, and they understand that being on the long list is like being at camp. If they’re the best goalies come January 1, they’re going to make this team.”

READ MORE: Avalanche Sign Victor Olofsson to One-Year Contract

Armstrong also noted that his longer list of possible goalies are doing paperwork behind the scenes in order to be eligible to be selected for Team Canada. I’d suspect Blackwood can work his way onto the roster with an excellent early part of the season. Albeit, even if he does, I’m not sure what it would take to unseat Binnington from the starters position.

Armstrong and Binnington are both part of the Blues organization, and the goalie’s performance at 4 Nations was not surprising to the GM, even after a tough start to his NHL campaign. He noted that part of the reason why Binnington’s numbers have dropped over the years is because the Blues are not as strong as they were, as a roster, before COVID.

Binnington finally got to play for a strong team again with Team Canada, and showed why he was the backbone of their 2019 Stanley Cup championship.

“It’s easy to forget, but pre COVID (in 2019-20) we were the best team in the Western Conference,” Armstrong said. “And he was leading us.”

The post Room for Blackwood? Team Canada GM Says Goalie Competition Is ‘Wide Open’ for Olympics appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

Earlier in the month, they signed Joel Kiviranta to a one-year, $1.25 million. He was a solid piece last season, and even if his goal totals drop, I see no issue with him filling in a depth role. He might even be the 13th forward after the trade deadline.

Then there was Alex Gagne, the 23-year-old free agent defenseman, who just completed a four-year college career. And lastly, the addition of Olofsson gave them 12 NHL regular veteran forwards.

But is it enough? How many of the potential third-line forwards will still play that role when the playoffs begin? How many will still even be part of the team? There’s no question the team has taken a step back since losing to Dallas in Game 7, but that often happens to teams who go all-in at the trade deadline and load up with rentals.

The question isn’t whether the opening night lineup is better or worse than last year’s Game 7 roster. Rather, it’s more important to compare the post-trade deadline roster in 2026 to the one from a season ago.

Here’s how things currently stand with the Avs following the addition of Olofsson.

Centers

1. Nathan MacKinnon
2. Brock Nelson
3. Jack Drury
4. Zakhar Bardakov

Extras: Ivan Ivan, T.J. Tynan, & Jason Polin

I put together a depth chart after the Kiviranta signing, and the center core is unchanged.

Read More: Avalanche Depth Chart: Lineup Coming Together but Still an Unfinished Product

Jack Drury is still slotted in as the 3C, and I’m starting to feel more and more like that’s going to be the plan for opening night. Zakhar Bardakov is going to get a look at camp to grab a hold of that 4C spot. If he doesn’t take it, then the Avs should be able to find a replacement pretty quickly. Whether it’s an unsigned free agent, a PTO, or a trade.

The funny thing about this team is, we’ve even seen that the front office can be aggressive as early as September. For example, last year they signed Erik Brannstrom early in July to fill in a depth blueline role, only to trade him after a handful of looks in preseason. He didn’t even make it to opening night.

So keep that in mind when thinking about the Avs’ center group. Unless Drury takes a gigantic step this year and develops into a permanent 3C, I can’t see this team entering the postseason without someone else in that role. And even if Drury stays there, the 4C spot is by no means solidified, at least not yet.

Wingers

1. Martin Necas
2. Artturi Lehkonen
3. Valeri Nichushkin
4. Gabe Landeskog
5. Ross Colton
6. Victor Olofsson
7. Logan O’Connor (injured)
8. Joel Kiviranta
9. Parker Kelly

Extras: Nikita Prischepov, Gavin Brindley, Matthew Stienburg, Danil Gushchin, Tye Felhaber, Taylor Makar, Chase Bradley, Cooper Gay, & Alex Barre-Boulet 

Like I said, the Avs have 12 NHL regular veteran forwards. Their three best centermen, and all nine of the wingers listed here. Logan O’Connor is starting the season on injury reserve, but we don’t know how long he’ll be out. What do they do when he returns? Perhaps Jared Bednar can shift Ross Colton back to center between Olofsson and Kiviranta, for example.

Or maybe Parker Kelly shifts to 4C behind Drury, and Colton, Olofsson, Kiviranta, and O’Connor fill in on the wing.

When I look at this list, I see five names that I can confidently say will be here past the trade deadline. Martin Necas tops the list, but his contract situation means I can’t, in full confidence, say he’ll be here all year. Not until the two sides come to terms on an extension. And Colton, Olofsson, and Kiviranta can all be traded for different reasons.

Basically, there’s a lot that could change. And some of that change will include a chance for guys like that Danil Gushchin and Gavin Brindley to get a look.

Right Defense

1. Cale Makar
2. Brent Burns
3. Josh Manson
4. Sam Malinski

Extra: Ronald Attard

When I last put together a depth chart, I had Josh Manson ahead of Brent Burns. I swapped them this time around because I’m starting to think Burns and Samuel Girard should be a pairing. Manson and Girard have been coach Jared Bednar’s go-to second pairing for years, until they brought in Ryan Lindgren.

Burns reminds me of Erik Johnson in terms of his size, reach, and defending. And Girard always played his best hockey with EJ, at least in my opinion.

That leaves Malinski with Manson, which could be an intriguing pair, or could go terribly wrong. If Malinski shifts to the left and plays well with Manson, I could still see him in and out of the lineup to give Keaton Middleton a look as well. Especially if Middleton continues to be a late-bloomer like, for example, Nate Guenin was in 2014.

Left Defense

1. Devon Toews
2. Samuel Girard
3. Keaton Middleton

Extras: Sean Behrens, Alex Gagne, & Jack Ahcan

Devon Toews will play with Makar, and Girard is the second-best lefty. That’s about all we know right now. Like I noted above, unless a trade happens, I feel like the Avs are going to start with four righties, and Middleton as the extra.

But I also really do wonder about Gagne. I don’t know much about him, but his size is something the team needs and his defending at the collegiate level was quite impressive. In 2023-24, Malinski was given a pretty solid look on the main roster and a chance to get a real taste of NHL action in his first pro season.

Can Gagne do enough to get that same type of consideration?

Goaltending

1. Mackenzie Blackwood
2. Scott Wedgewood

Extras: Trent Miner & Ilya Nabokov (loaned to the KHL)

It’s nice to know that this part of the depth chart is unchanged and there isn’t much to say that wasn’t said in my last Depth Chart story.

The post Avalanche Depth Chart: Olofsson Fills Role, but Is He Enough? appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

Victor Olofsson, a 30-year-old unrestricted free agent, signed a one-year, $1.575 million contract with the team for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Olofsson had 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. Eight of his goals came on the power play, and four of them were game winners. On opening night last October, Olofsson started the season with a two-goal performance against Colorado.

The winger has experience playing both on the left and right side.

The deal was first reported by PuckPedia on Tuesday evening and made official by the Avs early on Wednesday.

With Olofsson in the fold, Colorado now has 12 veteran forward NHL regulars under contract for the upcoming season. The bottom six is currently made up of Ross Colton, Joel Kiviranta, Parker Kelly, Jack Drury, Logan O’Connor, and Olofsson. O’Connor will start the season on injury reserve and if Colton remains on the wing (which is likely), Drury is the only center of the group.

Zakhar Bardakov is another centerman out of the KHL who likely will get a long look at training camp.

The post Avalanche Sign Victor Olofsson to One-Year Contract appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.