The Colorado Avalanche have made key moves in signing restricted free agents Matthew Stienburg and Jason Polin to one-year contracts for the 2025-26 NHL season. Stienburg, a third-round pick from the 2019 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut last season, playing eight games for the Avalanche before returning to the AHL after a suspension. He missed much of the AHL season due to injury but managed to play in the Calder Cup playoffs. Meanwhile, undrafted in 2023, Polin appeared in nine NHL games in the last two seasons, showcasing potential with 11 goals and 19 points for the Colorado Eagles.

With Logan O’Connor’s hip surgery creating a vacancy in the Avalanche's bottom six, both players are positioned to vie for a fourth-line spot in the upcoming training camp. Additionally, the Avalanche announced their preseason schedule, featuring a series of six games against Western Conference rivals. The preseason kicks off on September 21 with split-squad contests against Utah, followed by home games versus Dallas and Vegas at Ball Arena. Fans can catch all the action through Altitude Sports Radio, with TV broadcast details forthcoming.

The Colorado Avalanche have signed forwards Matthew Stienburg and Jason Polin to one-year contracts, enhancing their roster depth as they prepare for the upcoming season. Stienburg, 24, returns after recovering from an upper-body injury that sidelined him for much of last season. He made his NHL debut last October, logging eight games with no points recorded but accumulating 22 penalty minutes. Meanwhile, 26-year-old Polin has shown promise during his NHL tenure, scoring one goal and two penalty minutes over his first nine games in the league.

Both players aim to solidify their roles within the Avalanche lineup as they look to build on last year's performance. Stienburg, drafted by Colorado in the third round of the 2019 draft, brings potential offensive upside, while Polin, who went undrafted but made his mark at Western Michigan, hopes to leverage his collegiate experience to contribute meaningfully. The Avalanche's commitment to these players signals their focus on integrating youth and resilience into their strategy.

Matt Stienburg of the Colorado Avalanche has been suspended for two games following a dangerous hit on Erik Cernak during a recent match against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The NHL's Department of Player Safety deemed the hit unnecessary, resulting in a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for Stienburg.

The rookie, who has yet to score in his first eight NHL games, will miss upcoming games against the Nashville Predators and Seattle Kraken. Stienburg's aggressive play has led to significant penalty minutes early in his career.

Matt Stienburg, a 24-year-old rookie for the Colorado Avalanche, is striving to establish himself in the NHL amidst a talented roster. His recent predatory hit on Erik Cernak of the Tampa Bay Lightning has led to a hearing with the Department of Player Safety.

This incident serves as a potential learning opportunity for Stienburg, highlighting the importance of playing his role responsibly. The NHL's response could influence his approach to physical play moving forward.

Colorado Avalanche rookie Matt Stienburg is facing a player safety hearing after a charging incident involving Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak during a recent game. Stienburg was penalized with a five-minute major and a game misconduct for his actions, which resulted in Cernak leaving the game and not returning.

The 24-year-old forward, who has yet to score in his first eight NHL games, has accumulated 16 hits and 22 penalty minutes. Stienburg was a third-round pick in 2019 and previously played at Cornell before joining the AHL's Colorado Eagles.