Avalanche pull off shocking deal with top free agent
Photo credit: Derek Cain / Vegas Hockey Knight
The Colorado Avalanche are reportedly gearing up to pull off a stunning deal to land top free agent forward Victor Olofsson, a move that could shake up the NHL landscape.
Olofsson and the Avalanche have been at the center of trade rumours all offseason.
Avalanche closing in on signing free agent forward Victor Olofsson.
Brennan McClain from Pro Hockey Rumors writes that according to PuckPedia, the Avalanche are focusing on signing Olofsson to a one-year deal.
It looks like Olofsson will earn around $1.5 million with the Avalanche next season.
"It'll be a second straight one-year contract for Olofsson. He joined the Vegas Golden Knights last summer on his first trip through unrestricted free agency, reuniting with his former linemate with the Buffalo Sabres, Jack Eichel.
He didn't spend much of his time on the top line with Eichel, but he had a much better season than he did a year prior, scoring 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games, averaging 14:30 of ice time per night." -McClain
He didn't spend much of his time on the top line with Eichel, but he had a much better season than he did a year prior, scoring 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games, averaging 14:30 of ice time per night." -McClain
Still, Olofsson couldn't have had a much worse season than his final year with the Sabres. During the 2023-24 campaign, he managed just seven goals and 15 points in 51 games in the Swedish Hockey League from 2013 to 2018.
"The Avalanche have been stockpiling depth assets for the better part of two years now, and it's easy to understand why. Colorado has dealt with considerable injury issues throughout the last few seasons, necessitating their need for more NHL-ready options. Last season, the Avalanche used 49 different players throughout the regular season, though they still finished the season as one of the better teams." -McClain
This opens the door for Olofsson to see more ice time than he might have elsewhere. He's clearly a more reliable option for the Avalanche than recent addition Daniil Gushchin and is objectively a stronger choice than Ivan Ivan.
Previously on Avalanche Insider
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