Day 2 of Avalanche camp sharpened defensive structure and 5v5 pressure, with Wedgewood steadier between the pipes as Blackwood sits sidelined. Landeskog set the tone with leadership and a slot goal, Nichushkin showed a sharper stride and heavier shot, and MacKinnon drove the offense with intensity. Burns and Middleton provided blue-line depth, while Toews and Malinski tested veteran pairing chemistry. A mix of veterans and young skaters surfaced as clear depth options ahead of the preseason.

Colorado is leaning on the college-to-pro pipeline, signing Alex Gagne and Ronald Attard to pro deals while bringing Sean Behrens back from a knee injury and counting on Logan O’Connor and Sam Malinski to anchor the system. Gagne, a 6-foot-5 defenseman who captained New Hampshire, will begin in the AHL with the Eagles, and Attard’s two-way deal should log plenty of time in Colorado’s depth. Behrens’ return adds immediate blue-line upside, while O’Connor and Malinski provide veteran presence and internal competition. It’s a deliberate path to replenish youth after a busy trade-and-draft cycle, with the Eagles as a proving ground and COL roster depth as the ultimate goal.

The Avalanche have consistently mined college free agents, and these moves underscore a long-term plan to fill the pipeline from within. By prioritizing players who waited to turn pro and emphasizing AHL development, Colorado aims to cushion injury gaps and rotations while keeping the NHL roster competitive in a salary- and asset-conscious environment.

The Colorado Avalanche have bolstered their roster by signing restricted free agent Sam Malinski to a one-year, $1.4 million contract for the 2025-26 NHL season. Malinski, 27, made a significant impact in his first full season in the NHL, scoring five goals and recording 15 points in 76 games. Notably, the undrafted defenseman, who joined the Avalanche after a successful collegiate career at Cornell, transitioned from the third pairing to the second when needed, showcasing his adaptability.

This move comes strategically as the Avalanche clear some cap space, now possessing $8.325 million available as they prepare for the upcoming season. With ten forwards, five defensemen, and two goalies already under contract, Colorado is looking to sharpen its competitiveness, especially with forward Logan O’Connor slated to miss the start of the season due to hip surgery. The recent trades of Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood netted Colorado an additional $7.75 million in cap space for this season and $2.5 million in each of the next three seasons, allowing for necessary adjustments in their roster.