The Colorado Avalanche chose patience over the signing frenzy this free agency period, a strategy that may pay off in the long run. With $8.325 million in salary cap space, Colorado opted not to retain Jonathan Drouin and Ryan Lindgren, who signed elsewhere for contracts deemed excessive for the team's needs. While the Avalanche did secure a future asset in Parker Kelly with a four-year contract extension, it won't take effect until 2026. Other teams in the West, like Edmonton and Dallas, also faced challenges, either losing key players or failing to make significant improvements. Meanwhile, the market remained relatively quiet, with only the Vegas Golden Knights making a noteworthy move by signing Mitch Marner.