Avalanche top draft pick lands stunning contract with division rival

The former Avalanche forward will get a shot with the Minnesota Wild after being signed to a professional tryout (PTO).

Aarif Deen from Colorado Hockey Now writes that Foudy was drafted 75th overall by Colorado in 2020. He suited up for nine games in 2022-23 and four more the more the following year, recording a single career goal.

During the 2024-25 season, Foudy appeared in 48games with the Colorado Eagles, but his AHL production declined for the second straight year, finishing with only four goals and 19 points.

Foudy will join fellow former Avalanche defenseman Jack Johnson as a training camp invite for the Minnesota Wild.

Despite making his NHL debut with the Avalanche and playing nine games, Foudy suffered his first injury in three seasons. The then 21-year-old played 46 games for the Eagles, bringing his season total to 55 games.

In the 2023-24 season, Foudy fared little worse, with four Avalanche games and 26 Eagles games. The last season he appeared poised to differ. He started the year out hot and then spent time on the injured list, yet he still got in 48 AHL contests but none in the NHL.

Foudy also started his career during the pandemic and missed two years of junior hockey.

The curious thing here was his lack of playing time in the NHL despite contributing decently in the AHL at such a young age.

Injuries and lack of opportunity may have cost Foudy his career. He was a restricted free agent this past July, and the Avalanche chose not to give him a qualifying offer. As of this writing, no team has offered Foudy a PTO for training camp.

It's impossible to say what might have happened if Foudy had gotten more playing time, he could have developed into a reliable middle-six forward for the Avalanche, or he might have ended up where he is today. What's certain is that Colorado never gave him a genuine opportunity to find out.

Source:
Colorado Hockey Now
Jean-Luc Foudy Lands PTO in Minnesota