The Colorado Avalanche have checked off one of the final entries on their to-do list, signing Tyson Jost to a two-year contract. Jost was the team’s last restricted free agent at the NHL level. Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports that the deal will carry an average annual value of $2MM. GM Joe Sakic released a statement:
Tyson took a big step last year and was a key contributor to our team. He has worked hard to improve his game and earn a spot in our lineup. Tyson is a guy with a lot of character who competes at a high level day in and day out. We are excited to have him under contract for another two seasons.
Jost, 23, was the tenth overall pick in 2016 and though he is still waiting on an offensive breakout, the Avalanche trust him as a full-time bottom-six option that can help them moving forward. In 2020-21, he scored seven goals and 17 points in 54 games playing mostly with Valeri Nichushkin and Joonas Donskoi, a trio that unfortunately won’t be able to return for Colorado next season. Donskoi was snatched up by the Seattle Kraken in expansion, and after losing Brandon Saad to free agency, the Avalanche lines should have a slightly different look in 2021-22.
The biggest question is whether Jost, whose career-high is 26 points, will ever be able to step into a top-six role and succeed offensively. He’s already good enough in his own end to hold down a checking role, but there simply needs to be more scoring if he’s to become the next core piece in Colorado.
An offensive breakout would also benefit the young forward, as he’ll be an arbitration-eligible free agent once again at the end of this contract. In fact, he’ll be just a year away from unrestricted free agency, something he’s on schedule to reach at the age of 26 thanks to his early start in the NHL. It means these next two seasons are crucial from a financial standpoint, as the Avalanche hope to squeeze some extra value out of a $2MM cap hit while Jost hopes to set himself up for a big extension.
Right On!!!….glad to have Josty resigned. Very important part of the team and I think he’s going to find the back of the net more the way he plays. GO AVS!!!!!
They way he plays? He holds on to the puck for way too long, passes up open shooting lanes, and gets knocked off the puck. That’s the way he plays in the offensive zone. Not sure how that is going to translate to finding the back of the net more…
His defensive game is OK at best. I’m fine with him on line 3 or 4, and on the PK, but I’ve seen nothing that’s told me he is going to ever really break out offensively. I hope the avalanche brass knows something I don’t, because 2 million seems high for a guy who could have been replaced for around half of that. Betting on some significant improvement I suppose.
Guy is still developing and brings it every shift, I have faith in him. I think he has a really good shot & he goes to the net; therefore, likelihood, it is going to translate into more goals!!!
I agree with M34 here but would like to add a little more emphasis about how good he is at the PK
Jost is a bit of a strange one, here. Drafted tenth, and with where he has been playing to-date, might suggest sketchy scouting and/or poor development (or organizational direction issues). Up until this past year, he’s been absolutely hideous on faceoffs, but his Takeaways/Giveaways numbers are somewhat surprising, and fairly consistent (in a good way). The blocked shots number for the past two years may be aberrant, as they are a big decline from the two years prior. If his ATOI doesn’t increase, his point production may not go very much farther, unless he somehow gets slotted on PP1 for some prime cookies. If he continues to improve on the dots, and gets into the mid-50’s, I could see them keeping him around for longer, but not so much for the point production (or lack, thereof). Being out on the PK and having the ability to consistently win draws is sometimes seen as a very good thing (puck possession).