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.