All articles tagged with #colorado avalanche
Boston Bruins acquire 23-year-old forward Ivan Ivan from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Fabian Lysell. Ivan played 66 AHL games for the Colorado Eagles this season (11 goals, 15 assists, 26 points) and added 15 playoff points in 17 Calder Cup playoff games; he has appeared in 49 NHL games (5 goals, 4 assists) with the Avalanche. The Ostrava, Czechia native was signed by Colorado in March 2024.
Colorado traded Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets for three draft picks (2026 second-round, 2027 third-round, 2028 fifth-round) to clear cap space, with Nichushkin contributing 17 goals and 49 points this past season. The deal signals another offseason roster shakeup under GM Joe Sakic as Colorado recalibrates after its 2022 Cup run and tightens payroll ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Columbus trades for Valeri Nichushkin from Colorado, sending a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and a 2028 fifth-round pick. Nichushkin, 31, is signed through 2029-30 at $6.125M and could provide a 20-goal, 50-point pace if healthy, giving Columbus a top-six winger alongside Conor Garland. Colorado clears cap room ahead of looming extensions for Cale Makar and Artturi Lehkonen, while still aiming to add pieces; the Avalanche will have about $11M in cap space after the draft.
Columbus acquired right wing Valeri Nichushkin from Colorado in exchange for three draft picks: a 2026 second-round pick (43rd overall from St. Louis via Pittsburgh), plus a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. Nichushkin, 31, has 357 career points in 627 NHL games and posted 17-32-49 in 72 games this past season for Colorado, along with 91 playoff games (28-15-43). The Jackets view him as a big, two-way winger who can contribute scoring and physical play as they bolster their roster.
The Nashville Predators acquired forwards Jack Drury and Chase Bradley and Colorado’s third-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft from the Avalanche in exchange for Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov, boosting center depth with Drury’s face-off strength and Bradley’s forward potential. Drury posted 27 points in 82 games last season and excelled in the circle, while Bradley, 24, split time between the AHL and NHL with Colorado. The Predators now own eight selections in the 2029 draft.
Colorado Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland is departing to become Nashville Predators GM, with Josh Kroenke praising his impact and family considerations cited. Avalanche president Joe Sakic will resume GM duties for the foreseeable future, through the draft and start of the league year, continuing the franchise’s recent success after leading it to the 2022 Stanley Cup.
Claude Lemieux, the NHL’s fearsome playoff agitator known as 'Pepe Le Pew', died at 60 after a reported suicide attempt; tributes recall a dominant four-time Stanley Cup winner whose ferocity on the ice contrasted with a surprisingly tender, loyal side off it.
Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion known for his ferocious playoff play, has died at 60. Over a 1983–2009 career, he won Cups with Montreal (1986), New Jersey (1995, 2000) and Colorado (1996), and earned the 1995 Conn Smythe Trophy; tributes flowed from teams and peers, noting his competitiveness and loyalty, while the cause of death was not disclosed.
Claude Lemieux, a feisty four-time Stanley Cup winner who starred for the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche, has died at age 60.
The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 to sweep the series and advance to the Stanley Cup Final, showcasing their controlled, hard-edged playoff style and a coaching approach that emphasizes edge and tempo.
The Vegas Golden Knights swept the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 to reach their third Stanley Cup Final in nine seasons, with Mark Stone and Cole Smith scoring as Vegas frustrated Colorado’s high-powered offense and earned the series-clinching win behind solid goaltending and defense. The Avalanche, hampered by injuries to top players and a late-season coaching change, couldn’t mount a response as Vegas secured the franchise’s continued postseason success.
Colorado’s bid for back-to-back titles ended in a shock sweep by the Vegas Golden Knights, leaving the Avalanche facing a summer of soul-searching over injuries, an aging core, and questions about coaching and front-office direction as to whether their championship window remains open.
Vegas Dominated Colorado in the Western Conference Final, sweeping the Avalanche 4-0 as relentless pressure and smart defending stifled Colorado’s attack. The Avs appeared aging and banged up, missing a clear Plan B as injuries and depth issues chipped away at their performance. The piece questions Jared Bednar’s playoff approach and hints that Colorado may need a roster and leadership refresh to keep its Cup ambitions alive while Vegas eyes the Stanley Cup.
Vegas Golden Knights completed a 4-0 series sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy–winning Colorado Avalanche in Game 4 to capture the Western Conference title and advance to the Stanley Cup Final, where they’ll meet the East winner. Mark Stone opened the scoring, Cole Smith added an insurance goal, and Vegas’s tight defensive structure and 15 blocked shots stifled Colorado’s offense. Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood delivered standout stops after entering for Pavel Wedgewood, but Colorado’s stars, including a banged-up Nathan MacKinnon and an absent Valeri Nichushkin, couldn’t generate sustained offense as Vegas limited quality looks and controlled the pace.
Colorado Avalanche head to Las Vegas for Game Four hoping to stave off elimination after a 5-3 defeat in Game Three left the Western Conference Final 2-1 in favor of the Golden Knights. Colorado opened with a 3-0 first-period lead, but Vegas stormed back with four unanswered goals, setting up a must-win scenario for the Avs. Cale Makar remains a standout defenseman, while Kadri and Necas contribute offensively; Colorado will need tighter defense and continued scoring to even the series at T-Mobile Arena.