All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — August 19.

Colorado Hockey Now

The Avalanche could have a boat load of representation at the 2026 Winter Olympics. In fact, they lead the NHL with four total players already named to the Olympics rosters after each nation selected their first six. It’s Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Gabe Landeskog, and Martin Necas.

You can probably also pencil in Devon Toews for Team Canada and Artturi Lehkonen as a lock for Finland. I’d suspect Joel Kiviranta is a long shot for that roster. I still feel like Mackenzie Blackwood has a slight shot at Canada’s roster, too.

And then there’s Brock Nelson. The Avalanche’s 33-year-old centerman will attend USA’s orientation camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan later this month. He was on the 4 Nations Face-Off roster.

READ MORE: Brock Nelson Among 44 Invited to USA Hockey Olympics Orientation Camp

In case you missed it, the Avs signed a college free agent on Monday.

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

Around The NHL

Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings are finally celebrating the career of one of their all-time greats. Sergei Fedorov, who left the team in 2003 as a free agent, is getting his No. 91 retired on Jan. 12 against the Carolina Hurricanes — the team that tried to pry him away and signed him to an offer sheet in the 90s.

Fedorov’s legacy in Detroit became complicating following his departure. That offseason was an all-timer and one I remember well. Paul Kariya left the Ducks after losing Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final to reunited with Teemu Selanne in Colorado. The Ducks then signed Fedorov, who couldn’t come to terms on a deal with the Wings. Detroit added Derian Hatcher from the Dallas Stars, which was also a significant addition at the time.

Anyway, Red Wings fans have shouted for years that Fedorov’s jersey should be up in the rafters. He’s the last Red Wing to win the Hart Trophy and was, along with Steve Yzerman and Nick Lidstrom, part of their superstar core in Detroit’s pre-lockout golden era. No other player has worn No. 91 in Detroit.

Boston Hockey Now: Milan Lucic returned to Boston in 2023-24 and played four games before he was arrested in his home. After getting assistance for the rest of that year from the NHL Player Assistance Program, Lucic took all of last season off. Now, he’s joining the St. Louis Blues on a PTO.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Here’s Dan Kingerski’s story on the emerging interested buyer for the franchise.

NYI Hockey Now: The latest Islanders Mailbag answers questions about Calum Ritchie, who the Avs sent the other way in the Nelson deal in March.

Chicago Hockey Now: The 5 most underappreciated Blackhawks players during their Stanley Cup-winning years.

The post Deen’s Daily: Hockeytown Finally Celebrates Fedorov; USA Hockey Camp; Lucic Attempts Return appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

Nelson is among 44 players invited to the camp ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Aside from Matthew Tkachuk, every member of Team USA from the 4 Nations Face-Off will be present. Tkachuk was already named to the roster and is nursing an injury that might require surgery before the season begins.

Nelson is the only Avs player attending USA’s camp. The 33-year-old centerman had previously represented his country at World Juniors, the World Champions, and 4 Nations. He was not part of the Olympics roster the last time NHL players were there in 2014. This likely would be his only opportunity to play at the winter games.  At 4 Nations, Nelson did not record a point in four appearances, while averaging 14:23 per game in a depth role.

The full list of invites in below.

Introducing the 44 players who will attend the U.S. Men's Olympic Orientation Camp

Details: https://t.co/lWC0ZT1AJc pic.twitter.com/16FT49FRgP

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) August 19, 2025

The post Brock Nelson Among 44 Invited to USA Hockey Olympics Orientation Camp appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

Here’s everything we’ve seen from Colorado since the beginning of June:

• June 4: Pending UFA Brock Nelson signed a three-year contract carrying a $7.5 million AAV.
• June 20: Jason Polin and Matthew Stienburg signed one-year, two-way deals for league minimum to likely play for AHL Eagles.
• June 27: Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood traded to Columbus for Gavin Brindley and draft picks.
• June 30: Trent Miner signed a two-year, two-way contract for league minimum to play for AHL Eagles.
• June 30: RF Sam Malinski signed a one-year contract worth $1.4 million for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
• July 1: Parker Kelly signed a four-year extension that starts in 2026-27, carrying a $1.7 million AAV.
• July 1: Ron Attard, T.J. Tynan, and Jack Ahcan all signed one-year, two-way deals for league minimum, likely as staples on the AHL Eagles roster.
• July 2: Brent Burns signed a one-year bonus laden contract, carrying a $1 million cap hit + $4 million in potential bonuses.
• July 4: Alex Barre-Boulet signed a one-year, two-way deal for league minimum, likely as a staple on the AHL Eagles roster.
• July 10: Josh Manson signed a two-year extension that starts in 2026-27, carrying a $3.95 million AAV.

1. Most teams are pretty much set, but I still stand by my thought that we’ll see more notable movement before opening night. There are too many teams with too many questions for it to not happen.

Maybe arbitration settlements will re-engage clubs. For example, the Maple Leafs seemingly have too many bottom six forwards and another in RFA Nick Robertson, who has an arbitration date on the horizon.

What are they going to do with their roster?

2. I believe two things have frozen the trade market. One, way too many teams think they’ve got a shot at the playoffs, and it might take 15–25 games until reality settles in for some of the bottom feeders.

I always like using the 2022-23 St. Louis Blues as an example. Nobody expected that team to drop off the way it did coming off a competitive second-round series against the Avs. But they did, and it led to Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly, among others, being moved before the deadline. I would’ve never imagined either of those two leaving St. Louis.

So which team(s) will it be this time? If the Predators start terribly again, I’d imagine Barry Trotz might decide to blow it all up. Will Steve Stamkos be made available? Jonathan Marchessault? O’Reilly? Teams will actually have the cap space to add guys like that with term.

That’s just one of many examples of how quickly a team can adjust its plan and make really good players available for trade.

And second, I just think GMs are taking a bit of a breather. Maybe most of them are using late July to spend time with their families before getting back to it. There are no actual deadlines right now.

3. UFA’s Jack Roslovic, Victor Olofsson, and Matt Grzelcyk are all way too good to not be on opening night rosters. Even Joel Kiviranta is still out there. At some point, these guys are all going to sign, and maybe teams who miss out on them will start to maneuver.

4. Which brings me to the Avs. Their total moves since the Nelson deal are not all that many. They cleared cap space for a reason, and I’m still intrigued to see what they do with it.

I understand the frustrations of losing Coyle and Wood without any NHL players coming in, but the cap space will be used. Whether it’s now, in September, or during the year. I do think we’ll see something happen.

I would’ve loved to see Coyle stay, but I can’t stop thinking that the team probably didn’t feel like they were going to utilize him in a way to justify that cap hit. Now they have flexibility.

5. Speaking of flexibility, PuckPedia currently has the Avs listed at just over $4.1 million in available cap space. It’s actually slightly more than that because this also accounts for Stienburg, Ivan Ivan, and Tye Felhaber. They probably won’t be on the roster when all is said and done.

Anyway, more importantly, that $4.123 million is actually $18+ million in trade deadline cap space. They finally have the ability to make mid-season and deadline moves without needing to account for salary retention.

It’s a far cry from last year, when they were barely able to add Erik Johnson’s $1 million cap hit at the eleventh hour.

This management group has spent years making moves with little space. Now they have space, albeit not many assets. But still, more will come.

6. Speaking of which, I’m fascinated at the two targets they were reportedly interested in until the very end. They already had a plan to use their cap space.

It sounds like they were the runner-up in the Jonathan Toews sweepstakes, and it’s clear they had him targeted as their 3C.

Toews made his decision a week before Coyle was traded. That means the Avs were looking for a 3C well before the draft and that trade with the Blue Jackets. That also reminds me that even if they start the season with Jack Drury in that slot, I don’t think they’re going to end the year like that unless it goes very, very well.

They were also in on Nikolaj Ehlers until the end, and that one is even more fascinating. The Avs have their top six locked up. Valeri Nichushkin, Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, and Gabe Landeskog are all under contract for the foreseeable future. Artturi Lehkonen, making just $4.5 million for two more years, is a big hit at that number.

So, was the Ehlers move a sign that they’re not close on an extension with Martin Necas and are entertaining the idea of moving him? It’s the only reasonable scenario I can think of. Otherwise, it would’ve meant Lehkonen is downgraded to the third line, which kind of makes sense but also doesn’t. He should absolutely be a staple in the top six, if not the first line.

7. So where are we with Necas anyway?

I like the player — despite what some think — and I’d love to see him get a full season with MacKinnon. But I don’t like him as much as Mikko Rantanen, nor do I think he should be making anything close to Rantanen money. It defeats the purpose of that trade and not just paying your superstar.

Again, the Ehlers thing makes me wonder. What are they planning here? Why were they targeting Ehlers in the first place?

8. How many of Yegor Chinakhov, Mason McTavish, and Marco Rossi are actually going to get moved before opening night? I’ll say one.

9. Let’s talk about the defense a little bit. Is Brent Burns instead of Ryan Lindgren enough change on the blueline? I don’t think so, and I can’t imagine the front office believes so either.

I still can’t stop thinking about an eventual Samuel Girard trade. And no, that doesn’t mean I hate the player. It just seems like the scenario that would make the most sense given the Manson extension and recent Burns and Malinski contracts (obviously Cale Makar and Devon Toews are untouchable).

It just seems like we’re in an era where teams are more interested in bigger defensemen than someone like Girard.

10. Not saying there are any reports or rumors connecting the two, but if I had to pick a reasonable option to get in a trade involving Girard, it would be Seattle Kraken’s Jamie Oleksiak.

There are others, but this would be an option that will probably be available at some point and is a pending UFA at the end of the year.

Oleksiak played really well under Dave Hakstol (not that Hakstol is going to run the defense in Colorado.)

The post Offseason Musings: Frozen NHL Trade Market — Are There Too Many Hopeful Teams? appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

I often have several thoughts that come to mind, but none that are enough to write an entire article about. But some have been worthy of sharing.

With that, I’d like to introduce the first Offseason Musings of the year.

Throughout the summer, I’m going to release pieces like this as often as needed. What ever is on my mind, I’ll jot it down for all of us to discuss in the comments section. I have 10 musings today, but I’m not going to cap them at any specific number.

On this edition, I’ll uncover my thoughts on the most recent trade around the league and several opportunities the Avs could explore to improve their roster.

1. The Chris Kreider trade is a reminder that any contract and player is tradable. His game fell way off this year, and the Rangers still managed to get off his $6.5 million deal while upgrading from a fourth-round draft pick to a third (and sending a prospect the other way).

I only mention this because I know many are wondering how the Avalanche are going to get out of the Miles Wood contract — if that’s the route they want to take.

The rising salary cap means several teams have a lot of cap space that needs to be used to reach the floor. For this season and beyond. Having someone like Wood on the fourth line making 2.5 million makes sense for one of those clubs. Not so much for the Avalanche.

Let’s use the Chicago Blackhawks as an example. They already have 12 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goalies under contract for next season, with nearly $30 million in cap space to spare. They’re also $4 million from the cap floor.

I’m not saying that’s what will happen with Wood, I’m just saying it’s very much possible.

2. Trade and free agent rumors are in full force right now, and it’s honestly interesting to hear some of the names Colorado might be targeting, and the players the team is considering trading.

In years past, I wouldn’t believe that someone like Charlie Coyle is on the market. But now? You never know.

Chris MacFarland and the front office have proven time and time again that they have zero issues moving off a player that was just acquired. They have no problem trading players with term (like Samuel Girard), and they aren’t afraid to reset their depth.

With that being said, Pierre LeBrun wonders about a fit for Jonathan Toews in Colorado. Would he play on the wing? Or would they trade Coyle and free up a spot for Jack Drury and Toews to center the bottom two lines?

3. The Dallas Stars ended the postseason 9-9. They weren’t as good as they should’ve been, and that’s part of the reason why Pete DeBoer is out of a job. It just serves as another reminder that the Avs really let one slip away here.

I don’t believe Winnipeg would’ve beat Colorado. I also can’t say for sure that the Avalanche would’ve eliminated Edmonton. But even if not, they would’ve at least made it to the Western Conference Final and put up a better fight than the Stars did.

Despite the disappointing first round series loss, the Avs’ roster is already loaded with talent far greater than what they’ve had on opening night in any of the last three years. I expect a massive redemption season, which will include a No. 1 seed in the Central Division.

4. Speaking of the Stars, having Mikko Rantanen fall into their laps has completely changed their salary cap outlook. It sounds like they made that move with the thought in mind that it’ll lead to a Jason Robertson trade. And that’s fine. Rantanen is a better player, and they weren’t all that happy with negotiations with Robertson the last time he was up for a new deal.

Between the changes coming to their core and a new head coach on the horizon, I really wonder how much of a threat they’ll be next season.

5. The Brock Nelson contract is a tidy piece of business from MacFarland. The initial sticker shock was very much a thing, but once other deals are handed out on July 1, Nelson’s will look better.

Getting the 2C thing figured out before the draft and free agency is also a smart play. It allows the front office an opportunity to focus on other priorities.

6. I still think their next move should be to upgrade their defense after Cale Makar and Devon Toews. The Avs need a three-headed monster on the blueline. When Chicago was winning all those Stanley Cups, they had Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Niklas Hjalmarsson playing heavy minutes. The other three defensemen were more interchangeable. This is part of the reason why I was on the Seth Jones bandwagon a few months ago.

7. This obviously would mean Girard needs to get traded. I like the player and have defended him for years, but I do believe he’s reached his ceiling and the Avs need more from their third-best defenseman.

Could they get into a bidding war for Ivan Provorov? Maybe. But I’d imagine they prefer a trade candidate rather than a potential free agency overpayment. That’s traditionally how this current front office iteration has operated.

How about K’Andre Miller?

8. Seeing Corey Perry and Brad Marchand thrive in the Stanley Cup Final should serve as another reminder that even though the league is getting younger, the older veterans aren’t going to just fizzle out.

This generation’s athlete takes care of their bodies more than ever before. I don’t believe aging curves are what they used to be, at least not for everyone. This is why the Avs should’ve signed Nazem Kadri back in 2022. Sure, he was going to be 32 when the season began, but even his play over the last three years in Calgary has proven that he isn’t slowing down.

Keep that in mind when thinking about Nelson’s deal. Or the fact that Colorado might look at other veterans to round out their roster. You need a veteran mix in the room, even if they play bigger roles than Andrew Cogliano, Darren Helm, and both Erik and Jack Johnson did three years ago.

9. I’m going to address the elephant in the room in a separate article. That being Martin Necas and the fact that he needs a new contract soon.

I’m in the camp that if the Avs moved on from Rantanen to not pay three stars a large portion of the cap, then Necas for anything more than the $9.25 million Rantanen made on his last deal should not be an option. Go all in on spreading the wealth and find someone else to attach to Nathan MacKinnon. Maybe someone younger than Necas.

10. I love the creativity we’re seeing around the league with deferred salary and long-term extensions for guys that are clearly not going to play through their deals (see Chris Tanev and eventually John Tavares).

The best way to win in a hard cap league is to be creative. We saw the Avs flex some of that this past year with the goaltending trades, etc. But they have to find more ways to be creative and give themselves the best chance to win.

For starters, I would not be surprised in the least bit if Logan O’Connor starts the season on long-term injury reserve and his money is used elsewhere. By the time O’Connor is ready to return, they can do something creative to clear the space.

The post Offseason Musings: Rumors Galore — An Avalanche of Opportunities to Explore appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — June 5.

Colorado Hockey Now

I’m still pretty surprised and pleased to see the Avalanche take care of a big piece of business on Wednesday. They re-signed second-line center Brock Nelson to a three-year contract with a $7.5 million AAV. Nelson, Coyle, and Drury were all acquired midseason and are all going to start 2025-26 with the Avs. That in itself is a HUGE upgrade on a year ago.

I know the playoff loss was a disappointment, but it’s nice to see the Avs actually have a playoff caliber lineup already, rather than a bunch of scrap pieces filling out depth roles until the trade deadline. That was what we’ve been used to over the last two seasons.

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Read More: Deen’s View: Nelson Deal Sets the Table — Now the Real Work Begins for the Avalanche (+)

Perhaps one of the bigger questions now is the curious case of Martin Necas. I’ve written many times since the Game 7 loss that the Avs can’t possibly risk letting Necas walk as a UFA next July. When the Carolina Hurricanes tried to lock him up to a long-term deal last summer, Necas was adamant that the most he’d do was two years to walk him straight to UFA status. That’s fine. It’s his right. But if you’re the Avs, you cannot let that happen.

Necas has enough value to attract a considerable return on the trade market. But he doesn’t have the playoff pedigree (yet) to use him as an “own rental” and risk him walking in 13 months for nothing. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos had Necas on his Trade Board and said the winger “wasn’t overly thrilled” in Colorado. I’m not sure where that’s coming from, but it’s something to keep an eye on as we inch closer to the NHL Draft and July 1.

Elliotte Friedman spoke about this in his latest 32 Thoughts Podcast and confirmed that Necas wasn’t willing to sign a long-term deal last summer in Carolina. Friedman said he doesn’t know yet if that feeling has changed.

Stanley Cup Final

Game 1: EDM 4-3 OT (Oilers lead series 1-0) —  What an unbelievable start to the Final this year. The Oilers got out to an early 1-0 lead but watched as the game quickly shifted in Florida’s direction. The Panthers led 3-1 at the first intermission, 3-2 at the second intermission, but the game was tied at 3-3 as regulation concluded.

In the final minute of overtime, Leon Draisaitl capitalized on the PP off a setup from Connor McDavid to give Edmonton the crucial Game 1 victory. It was one of the better Stanley Cup Final openers I’ve seen in years. It’s nice too see Draisaitl get on the board twice after failing to score in last year’s seven-game series. He was one of many Oilers who played injured last year. That’s not the case anymore, and Edmonton looks like it’s on a mission to become the first Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup in 32 years.

Game 2: Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers (6 pm MT on Friday — TNT & tru TV)

Around The NHL

Bill Masterton Trophy: Sean Monahan won the Bill Masterton Trophy, the league announced on Thursday. Gabe Landeskog was one of the three finalists for the award but was beat out by the Blue Jackets center. I’d imagine we’re going to see Landeskog up for this again next year, if I had to guess.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Two former Pens assistant coaches are following Mike Sullivan to New York. One of them, David Quinn, was a catalyst for Pittsburgh’s strong power play and someone I was curious about for the Avs. Quinn used to be an assistant coach for Colorado many years ago. He also, coincidentally, held the Rangers’ head coaching position recently.

Boston Hockey Now: The Bruins became the last team to hire a head coach. They went with a former player who has climbed the coaching ranks in recent years.

The post Deen’s Daily: Oilers Win Entertaining Game 1 in OT; Bruins Hire Head Coach; What’s the Plan For Necas in Colorado? appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

The 33-year-old forward joined the Avalanche via a trade on March 6, sending forward Calum Ritchie, a first-round selection in the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft, a conditional third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft, and defenseman Oliver Kylington to the New York Islanders.

The second-line center scored 13 points in 19 regular-season games playing with several different linemates. But his impact was most significantly seen when Gabriel Landeskog returned in the postseason, after missing the last three regular seasons.

Nelson earned four assists in the seven-game first-round series loss to the Dallas Stars. One was on the captain’s goal in Game 4, and the other three were in combination with Landeskog. The two found chemistry quickly in the tight playoff circumstances.

“I’ve been playing with Val (Nichushkin) for a bit now, and obviously strong game to him — two-way, makes a lot of plays, good skater … and then Gabe, kind of the same thing. Just a simple guy to read off of, great communicator as well,” Nelson said after Game 4. “Last night he was awesome at communicating different plays on the bench, talking about different things even before the game getting ready and wanting to be a difference. All of that makes it, as a player, to read off him pretty easy, and go out there and just play and allow instincts and everything take over. And he made a lot of great plays out there as well.”

It usually takes a game or more for a player to adjust coming back from injury, so it was unknown how long it would take Landeskog after missing three seasons. The transition was fairly quick with skilled, veteran linemates like Nelson. And Avs management did not miss that.

“We’re thrilled to have reached an agreement with Brock to keep him in Colorado for the next three seasons,” GM Chris MacFarland said. “He’s been a great center in this league for a long time, and he brings professionalism and a dedicated work ethic on and off the ice. We think he’s a great fit and is a stabilizing presence to our second-line center role with his size and ability to touch all areas of the ice. We’re excited to see what his contributions will be over a larger sample size with the Avalanche.”

Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 and Nazem Kadri’s departure, the Avs have struggled at the 2C position. Evan Rodrigues was a solid fit but only stuck around for a season before signing with the Florida Panthers as a free agent. Ryan Johansen and Casey Mittelstadt were expected to fill the void, respectively, but did not fit the bill. Now the team has found its match.

“Having spent my entire career with one organization, we weren’t totally sure what to expect when we arrived in Denver. But getting the opportunity to play for the Avalanche, to compete with a great group of teammates in that locker room, and in front of the tremendous fans at Ball Arena, we knew this was where we wanted to stay,” Nelson said.

“Obviously the way the season ended last year was disappointing, but I can’t wait to get back on the ice soon and continue to push for our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.”

Nelson had insight from defenseman Devon Toews and former Avs forward Zach Parise on coming to the team.

It seems it was a plan in progress, and it paid off for the Warroad, Minnesota native. He and his family can settle in for the long haul with an extended deal. “My family and I are excited to be staying in Colorado,” he said.

The post Why Keeping Brock Nelson is Important for Avs appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — June 4.

Colorado Hockey Now

The Avs completed a very big part of their offseason before the Stanley Cup Final began. They signed their second-line center, Brock Nelson, to a three-year contract extension.

Nelson was acquired from the New York Islanders for Calum Ritchie and a 2026 first-round draft pick in March. He was a rental pickup at the trade deadline and one that came with a huge cost. Getting him locked in makes it easier to stomach what the Avs gave up.

More importantly, he could finally be the piece that gives the team stability at a position that has seen a revolving door of unsuccessful candidates since Nazem Kadri left in August 2022.

Click below to read my thoughts on where the team goes from here. Nelson’s deal is a huge piece of business. But it’s only the beginning.

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Read More: Deen’s View: Nelson Deal Sets the Table — Now the Real Work Begins for the Avalanche (+)

Tonight’s Schedule

• Game 1: Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers (6 pm MT on TNT & tru TV)

Around The NHL

Ted Lindsay Award: The winner of the Ted Lindsay Award was announced earlier on Wednesday. The award is given to the most outstanding player in the league, as voted on by the members of the NHL Players’ Association.

Nathan MacKinnon won it in 2024 and was looking to repeat. He was one of the three finalists, along with teammate Cale Makar and Nikita Kucherov. Unfortunately for the Avs’ duo, neither of them won. Kucherov is going home with his second career Ted Lindsay Award.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins finally hired a head coach, and it was a name that wasn’t being talked about much.

Philly Hockey Now: Rasmus Ristolainen once again finds himself on NHL trade boards.

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils should make a run for Jason Robertson.

NYI Hockey Now: Nelson re-signing in Colorado could help the Islanders in more ways than one.

Florida Hockey Now: The Panthers are making a change for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The post Deen’s Daily: Avs Solve 2C Issue; Ted Lindsay Award Winner; Stanley Cup Final Begins Tonight appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

The post Deen’s View: Nelson Deal Sets the Table — Now the Real Work Begins for the Avalanche (+) appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

The Avalanche signed center Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension, the team announced on Wednesday. Nelson was eligible to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 but opted instead to remain with the Avs. His new deal carries a $7.5 million AAV.

“We’re thrilled to have reached an agreement with Brock to keep him in Colorado for the next three seasons,” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said in a team release. “He’s been a great center in this league for a long time, and he brings professionalism and a dedicated work ethic on and off the ice. We think he’s a great fit and is a stabilizing presence to our second-line center role with his size and ability to touch all areas of the ice.”

Colorado acquired Nelson at the trade deadline from the New York Islanders, sending highly touted prospect Calum Ritchie and a 2026 first-round draft pick back the other way. In 19 regular-season games, Nelson recorded six goals and seven assists after the trade before posting four assists in seven playoff games.

Nelson ended the playoffs centering Valeri Nichushkin and a returning Gabe Landeskog. He was the catalyst of the play that led to Landeskog’s first goal in three years.

“We’re excited to see what his contributions will be over a larger sample size with the Avalanche,” MacFarland said.

With this deal locked up, MacFarland and the rest of the front office can shift their attention to other pressing needs. They still need to either sign or replace Jonathan Drouin, Joel Kiviranta, Ryan Lindgren, and Erik Johnson, among others. The Avs have less than $2 million in cap space following this signing.

Expect the team to send salary out the door via trade if they plan to add others along the way.

The post He’s Staying: Avalanche Sign Brock Nelson To Three-Year Contract Extension appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — June 2.

Colorado Hockey Now

I wrote yesterday about the NHL Draft Combine and how, from June 2-7, all general managers and several agents will be present at this event. What makes this year so different is the decentralized draft.

In years past, the draft floor was where GMs and front offices had a chance to walk over to each other’s tables and conduct business in person. I attended last year’s event at The Sphere, and it was quite fascinating to watch up close from the media’s portion of the floor.

But with that going away this year, front offices are making a concerted effort to utilize the combine instead. I’m not sure if the decentralized draft is going to last another year, given how quickly teams regretted voting for it. But, at least for a year, it does mean there will be an added element of rumors and potentially contract extensions or trades this week.

Last year, Boston dealt Linus Ullmark to Ottawa during the Stanley Cup Final, so movement is very much possible at this time of year.

If Brock Nelson does have interest in returning to the Avs, I’d like to see Chris MacFarland handle business this week. It would be wise for Colorado to lock up their No. 2 center position weeks before free agency so they can turn their attention to other moves to improve the team. Whether their choice for No. 2 is Nelson or someone on the trade market.

What would you like to see the Avs get done this week?

Read More: 6 Trade Targets That Could Solve the Avalanche’s 2C Hole (+)

Around The NHL

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Five pivotal deadlines and decisions for the Penguins in June

NYI Hockey Now: Why the Islanders could opt to trade down from No. 1 to either No. 2 or No. 3 in the draft.

Boston Hockey Now: Former Avs coach Joe Sacco is officially out of the running for the Bruins job. Elliotte Friedman thinks Sacco could replace Lane Lambert on Craig Berube’s staff in Toronto.

Frank J. Selke Trophy Announced: The NHL is changing the way Awards are announced this season, opting for a viral surprise moment for each one. To start, Aleksander Barkov won the Selke and King Clancy Awards and made history in the process.

This is my fourth consecutive year as a voter on several of the NHL Awards that are chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

I voted Sam Reinhart No. 1 for the Selke. Followed by Barkov in second, Leon Draisaitl, Anthony Cirelli, and Mitch Marner.

The final results of the ballot after tabulating all votes had Barkov first, followed by Reinhart, Cirelli, Nico Hischier, and Jack Eichel. Draisaitl and Marner, who I had on my ballot, finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

For some of the other Awards, I’ll write out why I came to my decision after the winners are announced. Especially the ones that involve Avs players (I’m looking at you, Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon).

Yanni Gourde Signs Long-Term: The Lightning locked up Gourde to a six-year deal for just $14 million. He’ll count against the cap at just $2.33 million per season, which is much lower than his market value. With an $88 million cap, Gourde is already well worth $2.33 million. But as the cap rises — starting with a jump to $95.5 million this season — he’ll only be of better value.

The rising cap and the low cap hit make it much easier to stomach signing a 33-year-old to such a lengthy term. The lack of state tax and the winning culture both played a part in this. As did Gourde’s previous familiarity with the organization before he was reacquired ahead of the trade deadline three months ago.

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