Avalanche's Christian Wolanin: Gets two-way contract
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Wolanin signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Avalanche on Saturday, per PuckPedia.
Wolanin spent 2025-26 with AHL Providence, logging seven goals and 24 assists over 53 regular-season games. The defenseman hasn't played in the NHL since he made 16 appearances with the Canucks in 2022-23. He will likely spend most or all of 2026-27 in the AHL.
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Avalanche's Zakhar Bardakov: Signs in KHL
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Bardakov agreed to terms on a one-year contract with KHL SKA St. Petersburg on Friday, Jeremy Garrett of Hockey News Hub reports.
Bardakov was given a qualifying offer by the Avalanche, so the team will retain his NHL rights. The 25-year-old center logged 60 regular-season games for Colorado in 2025-26 in which he notched one goal, nine assists and 35 shots while averaging 7:12 of ice time. Despite all the games in the regular season, Bardakov served as a healthy scratch in the postseason. If he can impress with SKA, Bardakov could get another shot in the NHL down the road.
Fensore signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Avalanche on Wednesday.
Fensore had 10 goals, 35 points and 37 PIM in 60 regular-season appearances with AHL Chicago in 2025-26. The 24-year-old has also logged three career regular-season NHL games, recording no points, two PIM, four hits and six blocked shots. Fensore doesn't appear to have a path to an Opening Night roster spot with the Avalanche, so he'll likely head to the minors after participating in training camp.
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Avalanche's Vinnie Hinostroza: Joining Avs
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Hinostroza signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Avalanche on Wednesday.
Hinostroza had six goals, 18 points, 31 PIM, 41 hits and 27 blocked shots in 65 regular-season appearances between Minnesota and Florida in 2025-26. The 32-year-old is a capable fourth-line option, but Colorado is deep enough for Hinostroza to spend most of his time as a healthy scratch when the full forward corps is available.
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Avalanche's Adam Beckman: Heading to Colorado
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Beckman signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Avalanche on Wednesday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Beckman played exclusively for AHL Bridgeport last season, recording 30 goals, 21 assists and 36 PIM across 68 regular-season appearances. He hasn't appeared in the NHL since the 2023-24 campaign, but he'll receive a two-year deal with the Avalanche that could pay him up to $1.75 million at the NHL level.
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Avalanche's Noah Juulsen: Agrees to two-year deal
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Juulsen signed a two-year, $2.2 million contract with the Avalanche on Wednesday, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Juulsen had a goal, 10 points, 15 PIM, 104 hits and 45 blocks in 52 regular-season appearances with the Flyers in 2025-26. The 29-year-old blueliner will probably begin the season as Colorado's seventh or eighth defenseman on the depth chart. While he could be a healthy scratch when everyone is available, Juulsen could slot into a third-pairing spot if the Avalanche blue line runs into injury issues.
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Avalanche's Jaden Schwartz: Agrees to terms with Colorado
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Schwartz (upper body) signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract with the Avalanche on Wednesday, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports.
After spending the first 10 years of his career in St. Louis, Schwartz joined the Kraken for the past five seasons. He made just 50 regular-season appearances during an injury-riddled 2025-26 campaign, recording 11 goals, 15 assists, 42 blocked shots, 32 hits and eight PIM while averaging 16:08 of ice time. The 34-year-old will get a change of scenery ahead of the 2026-27 season, and he should have an opportunity to carve out a role in Colorado.
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Avalanche's Taylor Makar: Inks two-year deal
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Makar signed a two-year contract with Colorado on Monday.
Makar appeared in 12 games for the Avalanche in the 2025-26 regular season in which he notched 17 hits, seven shots and four PIM while averaging just 6:13 of ice time. He also produced 14 goals and 10 assists over 52 regular-season outings for AHL Colorado. While the 25-year-old winger should see more opportunities in 2026-27, he figures to remain around the fringes of the big club's roster.
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Avalanche's Fabian Lysell: Gets change of scenery
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Lysell was acquired by Colorado from Boston on Saturday in exchange for Ivan Ivan.
Lysell had 17 goals, 42 points and 51 PIM in 57 regular-season outings with AHL Providence in 2025-26. Despite being the No. 21 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Lysell has appeared in just 12 career regular-season NHL games. Perhaps a fresh start with a new organization will benefit the 23-year-old.
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Avalanche's Axel Elofsson: Final pick of Round 4
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Elofsson was the 128th overall pick by Colorado in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
Elofsson is, without a doubt, one of the most talented defenders available in this year's draft. He dominated the Swedish Jr. league to the tune of 41 points in 32 regular-season games in 2025-26. At times, Elofsson can look like a forward out there. He's extremely elusive and possesses both a huge shot and the ability to skate the puck out of his own zone. Elofsson has the skill to quarterback a No. 1 power-play unit at the NHL level, but there are drawbacks. For starters, he's 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds. As one would guess for a rearguard that size, Elofsson's defensive zone play is a work in progress. Still, NHL clubs should be drafting for upside, and Elofsson has about as much of that as you can find at this stage of the draft.
Hamilton was the 74th overall pick by Colorado in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
Hamilton had to pay the freight for playing for a WHL Red Deer team that finished 10 games below .500 and gave up 68 more goals than they scored. His 24 goals and 62 points in 67 games don't stand out, but it's important to keep in mind that the next highest scorer for the Rebels managed just 38 points. Hamilton is a versatile offensive weapon who can play up and down the lineup as a center or winger. Set to return to Red Deer next season, Hamilton is an obvious candidate for increased production if the lineup around him can improve even a little bit.
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Avalanche's Yegor Shilov: QMJHL star heads to Colorado
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Shilov was the 43rd overall pick by Colorado in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
Born in Russia, Shilov played youth hockey on Long Island before joining the USHL. He then made the jump to the QMJHL this past season, leading all rookies in points (82) in 63 games en route to being named QMJHL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Shilov is a gifted offensive player, creative and crafty with the puck. He also possesses an excellent wrist shot. His defensive game needs work, but you rarely find players with this type of skill level available outside of Round 1. Shilov recently flipped his college commitment from Boston University to Penn State. He is expected to join the Nittany Lions in the fall of 2027 after one more season in the CHL.
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Avalanche's Brent Burns: Back for 23rd season
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Burns signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with Colorado on Friday.
Burns and Corey Perry are the last two players remaining from the 2003 NHL Draft class, having both been selected in the first round that year. The 41-year-old Burns also leads that group in games played, having logged 1,579 regular-season contests, in which he has produced 273 goals and 672 assists, while also making 148 postseason appearances. Despite the impressive resume, Burns' return for another year is almost certainly linked to trying to win the Stanley Cup, a feat which has thus far eluded him.
Kulak signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract with the Avalanche on Friday.
Kulak was moved around during the 2025-26 campaign, spending time with the Oilers, Penguins and Avalanche. However, he'll gain some stability over the next few years after he was slated to become a free agent during the offseason. Across 83 regular-season appearances between his three teams last season, he logged a goal, 11 assists, 108 blocked shots, 38 PIM and 19 hits while averaging 18:58 of ice time.
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Avalanche's Zachary L'Heureux: Involved in trade
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L'Heureux was traded along with Fedor Svechkov to Colorado from Nashville on Wednesday in exchange for Jack Drury, Chase Bradley and a 2029 third-round pick.
L'Heureux had four goals, five points, 21 PIM and 64 hits in 25 regular-season appearances with Nashville in 2025-26. The 23-year-old also had 14 goals, 28 points and 65 PIM in 30 regular-season outings with AHL Milwaukee. Although his physical play gives him the potential to be a great source of PIM and hits, L'Heureux might have to compete for a regular role in Colorado's bottom six.
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Avalanche's Fedor Svechkov: Getting change of scenery
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Svechkov was traded along with Zachary L'Heureux to Colorado from Nashville on Wednesday in exchange for Jack Drury, Chase Bradley and a 2029 third-round pick.
Svechkov recorded four goals, 17 points, 22 PIM and 60 hits in 70 regular-season outings with Nashville in 2025-26. The 23-year-old probably isn't going to get anything better than a bottom-six role as part of Colorado's strong forward corps.
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Avalanche's Magnus Chrona: Obtained in trade
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Colorado acquired Chrona, a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick from Nashville on Tuesday in exchange for Ross Colton and Isak Posch.
Chrona signed a two-year contract with Brynas IF of the SHL on May 19. It's unclear if the Avalanche intend to retain his NHL rights. He posted a 9-11-3 record with a 2.94 GAA and an .894 save percentage across 25 regular-season appearances with AHL Milwaukee in 2025-26.
Avalanche's Tristen Nielsen: Nets two goals Friday
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Nielsen scored twice in AHL Colorado's 7-3 win over Chicago in Game 5 on Friday.
Nielsen helped the Eagles get one win away from the Calder Cup Finals with his early pair of goals. He has totaled 10 goals and 15 points over 15 appearances in the Eagles' postseason run after a career-best 49-point effort in 66 regular-season outings.
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