The real reason the Avalanche couldn't afford to lose this veteran forward in free agency
Photo credit: AP Photo / David Zalubowski
On Wednesday, the Colorado Avalanche crossed a major item off their offseason to-do list by signing Brock Nelson to a contract that keeps him with the team through the 2027-28 season.
The 33-year-old forward was acquired by the Avalanche on March 6 in a trade that saw them send forward Calum Ritchie, a first-round pick in either the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft, a conditional 2028 third-round pick, and defenseman Oliver Kylington to the New York Islanders.
The real reason the Avalanche couldn't afford to lose this veteran forward this summer.
Colleen Flynn from Colorado Hockey Now writes that the second-line center tallied 13 points over 19 regular-season games while rotating through various linemates. However, his influence was most notable in the playoffs when Gabriel Landeskog made his long-awaited return after sitting out the previous three regular seasons.
"Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 and Nazem Kadri's departure, the Avs have struggled at the 2C position. Evan Rodrigues was a solid fit but only stuck around for a season before signing with the Florida Panthers as a free agent. Ryan Johansen and Casey Mittelstadt were expected to fill the void, respectively, but did not fit the bill. Now the team has found its match." -Flynn
Here's what Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland had to say following Nelson's contract extension.
«We're thrilled to have reached an agreement with Brock to keep him in Colorado for the next three seasons. He's been a great center in this league for a long time, and he brings professionalism and a dedicated work ethic on and off the ice. We think he's a great fit and is a stabilizing presence to our second-line center role with his size and ability to touch all areas of the ice. We're excited to see what his contributions will be over a larger sample size with the Avalanche.» -MacFarland
And it's clear that Nelson is excited to play out the rest of his NHL career in Colorado.
«Having spent my entire career with one organization, we weren't totally sure what to expect when we arrived in Denver. But getting the opportunity to play for the Avalanche, to compete with a great group of teammates in that locker room, and in front of the tremendous fans at Ball Arena, we knew this was where we wanted to stay. Obviously the way the season ended last year was disappointing, but I can't wait to get back on the ice soon and continue to push for our goal of winning the Stanley Cup. My family and I are excited to be staying in Colorado." -Nelson
It appears this was a carefully planned move that has now paid off for the Warroad, Minnesota native. He and his family can now look forward to settling in for the long term with the new extended contract.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 5 | 33 ANSWERS The real reason the Avalanche couldn't afford to lose this veteran forward in free agency Are you happy with Brock Nelson's contract extension with the Avalanche? | ||
| yes | 24 | 72.7 % |
| no | 9 | 27.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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