The Colorado Avalanche had a vacant assistant general manager position after promoting Chris MacFarland earlier this summer, and have decided to go outside the organization to fill it. The team has hired Kevin McDonald as their new AGM, taking him away from the St. Louis Blues where he has worked for more than two decades in a variety of roles.
Avalanche Rumors
Colorado Avalanche Sign Keaton Middleton
24-year-old defenseman Keaton Middleton signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche today, per the team. PuckPedia reports the contract is a two-way deal paying him $750K in the NHL and $100K in the minors.
Middleton was originally drafted 101st overall in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the team elected to not sign him to an entry-level contract within two seasons, relinquishing his exclusive rights. After his junior career ended, Middleton played the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons on an AHL contract with the San Jose Barracuda alongside his older brother, Jacob Middleton.
After starting the 2020-21 season on an AHL contract with the Colorado Eagles, the younger Middleton finally received an NHL entry-level contract from the Avalanche in the middle of the season. With the deal expiring this offseason, the Avalanche issued Middleton a qualifying offer, keeping him within the organization.
Middleton did slot into three NHL games in 2020-21 after signing his deal, but he failed to register a point in those contests. He’s destined to head back to the Eagles this fall for a third straight season after the physical defenseman had 76 penalty minutes, two goals, and nine assists for 11 points in 49 games there in 2021-22.
CapFriendly was the first to report Middleton had signed a one-year deal to remain in Colorado.
Colorado Avalanche Re-Sign Cal Burke
The Colorado Avalanche have rewarded a hard-working minor-leaguer with a one-year, two-way NHL contract. Per a team announcement, the Avalanche have signed forward Cal Burke to a one-year deal carrying a $750K cap hit and a $100K AHL salary.
Burke, 25, is an undrafted player who made his professional debut in 2020-21 after a successful collegiate career at Notre Dame. In his senior season, Burke captained Notre Dame and scored 21 points in 37 games, all while being relied upon as one of their most important defensive forwards.
As a professional, Burke had a difficult first season in Colorado. He only scored nine points in 33 games and had to handle a difficult, limited role without much in the way of offensive opportunities. This season, the ice opened up for Burke and he scored 12 goals and 26 points in 57 games.
Burke was a second-unit penalty killer for the Eagles and he even saw a bit of power-play time. Burke’s tenacity, two-way play, and commitment to his work ethic are what’s earned him this NHL contract, and his fast start to this past AHL year (14 points in 19 games) is an indication that there may yet be some more offensive upside to be unlocked in his game. Burke will likely head to training camp in the fall, hoping to earn a spot on the defending champ’s fourth line.
Nazem Kadri Becoming Less Likely To Return
- According to Colorado Hockey Now’s Adrian Dater, who spoke to several sources today, a return of Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche seems less likely than it had previously appeared. One of the market’s most desired players this offseason, Kadri is among the few notable UFAs who has yet to sign, with some speculating that he would like to go to a true contender, and thus those teams would have to work on making room under their salary cap, Colorado included. It’s unclear what, if anything, transpired today to shake Dater’s belief that Kadri could come back to Colorado, but it could mean that the tires are beginning to move on Kadri here on day six of free agency.
Brad Hunt Signs With Colorado Avalanche
11:55am: The team has officially announced the signing of Hunt.
9:55am: The Colorado Avalanche could be adding some veteran presence on the blueline, as Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV tweets that Brad Hunt will sign a two-year contract with them.
Hunt, 33, has probably played more in the NHL over the last several years than you remember, including 50 games with the Vancouver Canucks this season. The undersized puck-mover has shown himself to be a strong seventh option that can come into the lineup and contribute when necessary, though he won’t be logging big minutes when he does.
In his 241-game career, which includes stops with the Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, and Canucks, Hunt is averaging just over 15 minutes a night and has 76 points. In Colorado, he will be behind such a deep group that even when he does get into the lineup, he might not see the ice that much.
Still, for a club looking to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, inexpensive experience is key in free agency. Hunt can replace someone like the outgoing Ryan Murray, who played 37 games during the regular season and then was not dressed in the playoffs.
Colorado Avalanche Sign Josh Jacobs, Spencer Smallman
As the reigning Stanley Cup Champions worked on bringing back two key players in Valeri Nichushkin and Josh Manson, they also brought in two depth pieces in that of forward Spencer Smallman and defenseman Joshua Jacobs, the team announced. Smallman’s contract runs for two years, while Jacobs’ is just for one. The Jacobs contract is a two-way deal, worth $750K at the NHL level and $265K in the minors, says PuckPedia. Smallman’s contract is worth $750K in the NHL this season, rising to $775K next season, according to PuckPedia. In the minors, the contract will pay Smallman $350K this season and $400K next season, but does guarantee him $400K this season regardless.
A fifth-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015, Smallman has spent his professional career between the ECHL and AHL levels in the Hurricanes’ system. This season, the 25-year-old had 27 points, 10 goals and 17 assists, in 65 games for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. Prior to his pro career, Smallman spent five years as a member of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL, his best and final season coming in 2016-17, where he notched 30 goals and 49 assists in 60 games.
Once a top prospect in the New Jersey Devils organization, Jacobs hasn’t lived up to the expectations set for him after he was drafted 41st overall in 2014. Quite the opposite of Smallman, Jacobs made his way through three leagues before turning professional, starting with two seasons in the USHL as a member of the Indiana Ice before heading to college at Michigan State University for a season, finishing his amateur career with a season in the OHL as a member of the Sarnia Sting. Since then, Jacobs has spent most of his career playing in the AHL with the Devils, making a couple of appearances in the NHL with New Jersey. 2021-22 was Jacobs’ first season outside of the Devils organization, as he played for the Chicago Wolves, an affiliate of the Hurricanes.
Colorado Avalanche Re-Sign Jonas Johansson
The Colorado Avalanche have some question marks in net even after acquiring Alexandar Georgiev, meaning they need some depth at the position. That will come in the form of Jonas Johansson, who has re-signed for one year. He’ll be on a two-way contract that carries an NHL salary of $750K and an AHL salary of $350K.
After losing Johansson on waivers last December, the Avalanche had to watch as he basically became a practice goaltender for the Florida Panthers organization. The 26-year-old played just two games for Florida and one for their AHL affiliate during the five months he was with the team, meaning he will be a bit out of practice by the time he gets back in game action next season.
That is, of course, if they’re able to get him through waivers this time, which isn’t a given after his experience in 2021-22. He certainly won’t be staying with the Avalanche NHL roster though, unless there’s an injury, as Georgiev and Pavel Francouz are locked in as the everyday tandem.
Colorado Avalanche Extend Artturi Lehkonen
The Colorado Avalanche have extended restricted free agent Artturi Lehkonen, signing the winger to a five-year contract that will carry an average annual value of $4.5MM. Since he was just one year away from unrestricted free agency, the lucrative extension buys out four UFA years and keeps Lehkonen in Colorado through the 2026-27 season.
New Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland released the following statement:
Artturi was a great fit to our team last season and obviously played an essential role in our championship run. He is incredibly versatile, can play anywhere up and down the lineup. He has a non-stop motor and never takes a shift off. He’s really smart, highly competitive, knows his role no matter what is asked of him. Getting length and term for a player of his quality was a top offseason priority and we’re thrilled to have him for the next five years.
When MacFarland says Lehkonen played an essential role in the Stanley Cup run, he isn’t kidding. The 27-year-old scored eight goals in 20 games, four of them game-winners, including the Cup-deciding tally in game six of the Final. The Finnish winger is probably not going to reach elite offensive totals over the next five years but he’ll be one of the most important pieces if the Avalanche are to challenge for another championship. His penalty-killing ability, physicality, and hockey sense allow the team to put him in basically any situation without worrying about the defensive end of the ice, freeing up the team’s more offensive players to drive the play.
With Lehkonen, Valeri Nichushkin, Josh Manson, Darren Helm, and Andrew Cogliano all brought back, the Avalanche will once again have a very impressive group to push for the Central Division crown and potentially another Stanley Cup.
Colorado Avalanche Sign Charles Hudon, Andreas Englund
The Colorado Eagles will be happy today, as their NHL affiliate has provided a top forward. Charles Hudon has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Colorado Avalanche according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. The deal carries an NHL salary of $750K, an AHL salary of $400K, and a minor league guarantee of $450K. The team also announced a one-year deal for defenseman Andreas Englund.
Hudon, 28, is an accomplished AHL scorer and is getting a hefty $450K guarantee as proof of that. Hudon had 30 goals and 57 points in 66 games last season for the Syracuse Crunch and 35 points in 46 games in his last AHL season before that. In 2020-21, Hudon proved he could be productive at other levels of hockey outside of North America, scoring 32 points in 33 games for Lausanne in Switzerland. Hudon joins the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, a team that has lost a few key contributors already today, such as top defenseman Jordan Gross.
One AHL-er who won’t be leaving the Colorado Eagles is Englund. The 26-year-old Stockholm native has re-upped with Colorado on a one-year deal. Englund was a bottom-pairing defenseman for the Eagles playing a very specific style. He’s a big, bruising defenseman who spent 106 minutes in the penalty box last year. The 2014 second-round pick has 33 games of NHL experience and should occupy a similar AHL role in 2022-23 to the one he occupied last season.
Josh Manson Expected To Re-Sign With Avalanche
One of Colorado’s key trade deadline acquisitions is set to stick around. As first reported by Peter Baugh of The Athletic (Twitter link), the Avalanche have agreed to terms on a new contract with defenseman Josh Manson. Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that it’s a four-year, $18MM contract which results in a $4.5MM AAV.
The 30-year-old was brought in from Anaheim just before the trade deadline in exchange for defenseman prospect Drew Helleson and a 2023 second-round pick in an effort to shore up the back of their defense corps. Manson was able to do just that, playing a key role in helping Colorado win the Stanley Cup last month and was ranked 16th in our Top 50 UFA list.
Last season, Manson played in 67 games between Anaheim and Colorado, picking up six goals and ten assists. While he had a 37-point season back in 2017-18, the 16 points he had in 2021-22 is closer to the typical production that he puts up which limited the upside of his market. However, he was still able to land a small raise from the $4.1MM he had on his last contract with another four-year commitment.
The Avalanche will have an impressive back end next season with Manson sticking with an impressive young core that features Cale Makar, Samuel Girard, and Bowen Byram that are all 24 or younger and Devon Toews who has emerged as a high-end defender in his own right since joining Colorado. With Erik Johnson still in the fold, that’s one of the stronger and deeper defense corps in the league which should give plenty of support to new starter Alexandar Georgiev.
With this agreement and the one given to Darren Helm earlier today, Colorado now has a little over $9MM in remaining cap space per CapFriendly with Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky both set to hit the open market in less than an hour. Barring a significant trade, it’s unlikely that either of them will re-sign with the bulk of their remaining camp room likely being earmarked for restricted free agent winger Artturi Lehkonen.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.