The Avalanche have re-upped depth netminder Trent Miner on a two-year deal, per a team announcement. Although financial details weren’t disclosed in Colorado’s announcement, Miner likely only commanded a league-minimum salary on both years of the deal, given the Avalanche already has their tandem squared away for next season.
The Brandon, Manitoba, native made an unexpected debut in the NHL this past season. Due to injuries and significantly poor play at the beginning of the season, Colorado utilized six different netminders last year. Still, Miner only registered two games, managing a 0-1-0 record with a .879 SV% and 2.62 GAA.
Given their lack of depth and available capital to spend, it would make sense for Miner to start the year as the Avalanche’s third-string option. Ilya Nabokov is a more talented goalie, but Colorado has decided he will spend another year with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL, making Miner the top available option for the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.
Still, given Miner’s performance with the Eagles last year, Nabokov may not have been given the starting gig to start the campaign. In his first full year as the team’s starting goaltender, Miner managed a 22-10-9 record in 38 games for the AHL Eagles, with a .918 SV%, 2.12 GAA, and three shutouts. He did everything he could to deepen the Eagles’ playoff run, earning a 5-4-0 record in nine postseason contests with a .925 SV% and 2.15 GAA.
In any other year, Miner might not have been given the backup role, but he would at least have had the chance to try out for the position during training camp. Unfortunately for Miner, there’s no legitimate argument to put him over Scott Wedgewood to begin the 2025-26 campaign, leaving him as the next best available option.