Why the Colorado Avalanche Avoided the Biggest Names in Free Agency
When NHL free agency opened, the Colorado Avalanche didn’t make any breaking headlines. They could have joined in the race for the biggest names, but instead they chose a different path.
While teams around the league were busy pouring significant money into star players, Joe Sakic quietly added winger Jaden Schwartz, defenseman Noah Juulsen, forwards Vinnie Hinostroza and Adam Beckman, along with defenseman Domenick Fensore.
Colorado also was sure to re-sign Brent Burns and Brett Kulak before free agency even opened. This was a clear strategy of depth rather than splash.
Colorado Already Has Its Stars
The Avalanche already have a strong core, so they weren’t out to sign stars; they knew they just needed to fill in the depth across the team. There is no need to rebuild here, just a need to up the physicality and upgrade their fourth line.
Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Devon Toews, MacKenzie Blackwood and Artturi Lehkonen are the foundation of this team.
Schwartz adds playoff experience to the mix and a lot of offensive versatility. Juulsen strengthens the blue line with a right-shot option.
The rest of the additions are clear depth signings that have the ability to increase the competition level when training camp starts.
The Salary Cap is Still a Consideration
Of course, everyone in Denver is awaiting the news that the Avalanche have extended the contracts of Cale Makar and Lehkonen. These are must-have deals and would be devastating if they didn’t happen for some reason.
Should Colorado have gone out and signed a massive free-agent deal, it would have put a lot of pressure on Sakic to have room to sign these two cornerstone players.
They didn’t complicate those plans. The flexibility with the cap is still there, and at some point, everyone’s concerns should be quieted when Makar and Lehkonen sign on the dotted line.
Depth Wins Championships
The offseason philosophy has served this team well for many years. Contenders aren’t built with a few superstars. Championships are won with stars surrounded by dependable depth pieces who can contribute to the lineup during important minutes and when unfortunate injuries occur.
There won’t be highlight reels of Colorado additions this offseason; those will come later when the team takes the ice. When the Avalanche are playing deep into May of 2027, the accolades will roll in for Sakic’s consistent and measured approach.
Personally, I think Sakic will finish up the summer with a few more signings, and then some of the real changes will occur after they hit the ice and before the trade deadline.
Laura Lambert resides in Wiggins, Colo. with her husband, Ricky and two sons, Brayden and Boedy. She attended the University of Northern Colorado while studying economics. She is an accomplished rodeo athlete and barrel horse trainer along with being a life-long sports fan. Over the years, Laura has been active in journalism in a variety of roles. While continuing to cover western sports and country music, she is currently enjoying expanding her reach into multiple sports including MLB, NHL, NCAA and WNBA. Laura covers the Miami Marlins, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, Toronto Blue Jays, Colorado Avalanche and Rodeo for On SI. You can reach her at lauralambertmedia@gmail.com