The Avalanche recalled forward Ben Meyers from AHL Colorado on Monday, per a team announcement. With the Avalanche sitting at 22 out of the maximum 23 players on the active roster before the move, no corresponding transaction is necessary.
Meyers, 25, signed a one-year, one-way deal worth $775K to remain in Denver last summer but did not make the Avalanche’s roster out of camp. The 2022 college free agent signing out of the University of Minnesota responded to the demotion well, posting five goals and 12 points in 17 contests to start the campaign, good enough for third on the team in scoring.
Over the past two seasons with the Avalanche, Meyers appeared in 44 games. He’s logged five goals and a -8 rating while averaging 9:38 per game, but he’s still looking for his first NHL assist. Meyers made six appearances in last year’s First Round elimination at the hands of the Kraken, but he was held of the scoresheet and posted a -2 rating in a paltry 5:30 of ice time per game.
The Avalanche are in an uncharacteristic lull, dropping five of their last six games and falling to third in the Central Division based on points percentage behind the Jets and Stars. Meyers’ recall comes as depth forward Joel Kiviranta is battling an illness, so either Meyers or defenseman-turned-winger Kurtis MacDermid will suit up for fourth-line duties tonight against the Flames. Colorado has struggled to get secondary scoring going this season. Outside of Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, only Valeri Nichushkin is scoring at a clip higher than 0.5 points per game.