All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — August 21.

Colorado Hockey Now

Following the Olofsson signing, the Avalanche have a more clear depth chart. They finally have 12 capable veteran forwards, albeit one of them (Logan O’Connor) is starting the season on injury reserve.

Here’s how the roster is looking after that addition.

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

Also, catch up on the terms of the Olofsson deal, and another contract the Avs gave out previously.

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

READ MORE: Avalanche Sign Defenseman Alex Gagne to Entry-Level Deal

Around The NHL

Ingram Cleared: Connor Ingram was cleared by the NHL Player Assistance Program on Thursday, making him eligible to return with the Utah Mammoth when training camp begins next month. The Mammoth added Vitek Vanecek for extra goalie depth just in case. But with Karel Vejmelka already locked up, it sounds like the team is going to role with three goalies unless a trade unfolds between now and October. Or perhaps Ingram is placed on waivers before opening night.

Matthews Speaks: The Maple Leafs captain addressed the Mitch Marner departure on Wednesday during Hockey Night in Brampton, Ontario. Matthews said ther was no hard feelings towards his longtime friend and teammate. He and Marner entered the league together in 2016-17 and have been a dominant duo since. Click here for more about what Matthews had to say.

Detroit Hockey Now: It sounds like Sergei Fedorov is looking to get into hockey ops with the Red Wings.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Are the Bruins trying to trade one of their more recent first-round draft picks?

San Jose Hockey Now: How special is underrated center Alex Wennberg? 

The post Deen’s Daily: Updated Avs Depth Chart; Matthews Talks Marner Trade; Ingram Cleared to Return 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.

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — August 20.

Colorado Hockey Now

The Avalanche entered August with way too many roster holes in the bottom six for them to start training camp without any new additions.

Earlier in the month, they brought back Joel Kiviranta, which made way too much sense given his chemistry and fit with the club. And on Wednesday, the team officially announced another signing in Victor Olofsson.

The left-shot goalscorer is a sniper on the power play.

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

The Avs signed a college UFA earlier in the week as well. Information on that are below.

READ MORE: Avalanche Sign Defenseman Alex Gagne to Entry-Level Deal

Around The NHL

Detroit Hockey Now: I wrote yesterday about the Red Wings finally retiring No. 91 for Sergei Fedorov this upcoming season. But, fans are asking why it took so long. We sort of already know why, but nobody has really said it out loud.

Also, who should be next on the banner raising list for the Wings? I’d assume No. 13 and No. 40 are up there at some point.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dan Kingerski assesses the Penguins offseason, and the concern-o-meter for the team heading into what should be a rough 2025-26 season.

Montreal Hockey Now: We’ve got Team USA snubs. First on the list: Lane Hutson.

San Jose Hockey Now: Given that guys like Frank Nazar were invited to camp, was Will Smith another snub by Team USA?

The post Deen’s Daily: Avs Add Depth With Olofsson; USA Hockey Camp Snubs 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.

Trades are still very much going to be a thing, especially when it comes to remaking the blueline. But up front, there are still some guys that could help this team in a depth role.

Avs general manager Chris MacFarland said on Thursday that he’s still keeping tabs on a few options.

Here are five that he could be talking about.

Victor Olofsson, LW, Age: 29

The Avs are still looking for help in the bottom six and Olofsson is the only remaining skater from my first UFA Board on June 30.

If you’re looking for someone who can play the left side on the power play and pound pucks home, then Olofsson isn’t a bad option. He had 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games for the Knights last year in a limited role.

Joe Veleno, C, Age: 25

There was a report earlier in the week that the Avs were favorites to land Veleno. He’s a 25-year-old centerman that was bought out of his contract at one-third of the value because of how young he is.

This is precisely the same way Valeri Nichushkin became an unrestricted free agent in 2019 with the Dallas Stars. And that’s about the only comparison between the two players.

Veleno was a very skilled junior play that just couldn’t find his way with the Red Wings. He’s a centerman, which you could never have too many of, and is the best reclamation project on the market. Can the Avs unlock something in him?

Joel Kiviranta, LW, Age: 29

This is an obvious choice because the Avs know what they’d be getting here. If I had to guess, I’d say Kiviranta is still available because the Avalanche didn’t offer him as much of a raise as he’d like. But that’s entirely a prediction.

If other teams don’t pounce, I’m sure an opportunity to remain in Denver will arise. MacFarland already made it clear that he’d circle back on both Kiviranta and Erik Johnson if needed.

Jack Roslovic, RW, Age: 28

The best forward remaining on the market, Roslovic, who scored 22 goals, is the only option left that had more than Kiviranta’s 16.

If the Avs end up dealing Ross Colton, this is someone that can take his place as a third-line right wing option and can fill in for injuries in the top six. I’m not for dealing Colton at this point, given the surplus of cap space Colorado now holds. But if options arise for MacFarland to shore up and remake the blueline, then trading Colton and signing a slightly cheaper Roslovic is an easy way to create some cap space.

Brett Leason, RW, Age: 26

Listed at 6’5, 220 lbs, Leason can play center or wing. At just 26 years old, he’s a UFA because the Anaheim Ducks didn’t qualify him. Similar to Veleno, Leason could be a solid reclamation project for the Avs, or someone that never dresses and ends up in the AHL. It’s a worthy gamble on a player you can get for around league minimum

The post Avalanche UFA Board: Bottom Six Depth Options Remain on The Market appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

For the first time in three years, Alexandar Georgiev suffered a loss in the season opener with the Avs. And it wasn’t anywhere close to being the type of game that inspires confidence.

Georgiev surrendered five goals on 16 shots in Wednesday’s 8-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. He was pulled after the second period and watched from the bench as the backup, Justus Annunen, only stopped three of five shots the rest of the way.

Meanwhile, on offense, the Avs’ top guys pulled through. Mikko Rantanen scored a hat trick — the first three-goal game in a season opener for Colorado in eight years (Joe Colborn, 2016). Still without a contract extension, Rantanen scored three one-timers off of feeds from Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar (twice).

READ MORE: Good & Bad: A Tale of Two Performances in Avalanche’s Season Opener

The other goal came from Casey Mittelstadt, who was a bright spot for Colorado despite playing with different wingers a times throughout the night. Mittelstadt spent the majority of the game at even strength on a line where he’s suddenly the veteran of the group. He was flanked by rookies Nikolai Kovalenko and Calum Ritchie. The trio had a strong start but didn’t do much in the later stages of the game.

On the shift where Mittelstadt scored, he had Ross Colton and Kovalenko playing the wing. It’s a sign that head coach Jared Bednar will not shy away from trying different things until he gets one or both of Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin back. Neither is likely to return until November.

Following Rantanen’s first tally, which gave the Avs a 1-0 lead, the Golden Knights quickly responded thanks to a goal from Victor Olofsson. The newcomer beat Georgiev on a tough angle with a shot that the goaltender will likely want to have back. Georgiev was down and kept the short side open for Olofsson, who later added another tally with a snipe in the closing seconds of the second period.

Vegas then added two goals in 25 seconds in the final minutes of the first. It was a rare shift where Colorado’s top line let in two goals to Vegas’ top line. On the second goal, a 2-on-1 play that finished up with a tally for captain Mark Stone, Makar found himself in no man’s land after pinching at the blue line. The result of his miscue was Devon Toews getting stuck trying to stop Jack Eichel and Stone.

The trailing forward on the play was MacKinnon, but he let up for just a second and it was enough for Eichel to get away. Two rare mistakes from two players at the top of the lineup. Vegas took a 3-1 lead into the break.

But from there, each time Colorado responded, the Golden Knights added another goal to keep them out of reach. It was suddenly 3-2 after Rantanen’s second goal, but then it quickly became 4-2. Then when Mittelstadt made it 4-3, the Knights made it 5-3 on the Oloffson PP goal.

Then in the third period, Rantanen made it 5-4 only for the Knights to get one, then two past Annunen to pull ahead 7-4. Then, an empty netter after nearly five minutes of 6-on-5 play for Bednar’s club.

Colorado will need to turn the page as it prepares for its home opener on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Avs will play the next four games at Ball Arena in a seven-game span where they were so dominant a season ago.

The post Georgiev Pulled In Avalanche’s 8-4 Loss to Vegas on Opening Night appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.