The Colorado Avalanche aren’t waiting around for summer to get their roster in shape. They’ve locked down veteran forward Brock Nelson with a three-year deal worth $7.5 million per year.
It’s a big move that kicks off what’s shaping up to be a pretty exciting NHL offseason.
Nelson, who the Avs picked up from the Islanders at the trade deadline, made an immediate impact in Colorado. He put up 13 points in just 19 regular-season games, including 6 goals. Not bad for a midseason addition.
The deal comes as most NHL teams are already deep into their offseason planning, while the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers battle it out in the Stanley Cup Final.
This year’s free agency market, which opens July 1, is looking particularly spicy. Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs is expected to be the biggest name up for grabs.
But he’s not alone. Some other big names hitting the market include:
- Sam Bennett from the Panthers
- Brock Boeser of the Canucks
- Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad
- Stars center Matt Duchene
For Nelson and the Avalanche, this deal makes a lot of sense. He’ll likely keep centering their second line alongside Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin.
The Avs paid a pretty penny to get Nelson from the Islanders earlier this year – giving up forward Calum Ritchie, defenseman Oliver Kylington, and two draft picks. Now they’ve made sure that investment won’t walk away this summer.
Nelson will be turning 34 when the 2025-26 season starts, but his recent performance suggests he’s still got plenty left in the tank. Between the Islanders and Avalanche last season, he put up 56 points, with 26 goals and 30 assists.
He even added four assists in Colorado’s playoff series against Dallas, though the Stars ultimately ended their run.
