The Colorado Avalanche are an example of the rich getting richer. Reports have emerged about the Avs signing one of the most coveted free agents this offseason.
According to reports, the Avs are signing Jaden Schwartz for three seasons at $3.25 AAV.
Talk about a player taking a bit of a pay cut to head to their preferred destination.
Schwartz had been rumored to have the Avalanche as his top destination. The 33-year-old played at Colorado College during the 2010-11 season. That natural connection prompted the former first-round pick from 2010 to keep Colorado on his mind.
Schwartz’s contact with the Avalanche is actually a significant pay cut. The former Seattle Kraken forward signed a five-year, $27.5 million deal in 2021. His $5.5 million cap hit actually made him a reasonably-priced top-six forward.
The Avalanche’s newest member scored 20 goals twice during his tenure in Seattle. Schwartz’s highest point total came during the 2014-15 season when he scored 28 goals and 63 points with the St. Louis Blues.
He eventually left the Blues to join the Kraken as a free agent. Now, Schwartz will be ready to join one of the deepest teams in the NHL.
How Schwartz fits into Avalanche lineup
A fair question to ask is: How does Schwartz fit into the Avalanche’s lineup?
The simple answer to that question would be placing him on the third line with Nazem Kadri and potentially Nic Roy.
But wouldn’t it be crazy to see Schwartz take over as the 3C with Kadri moving up on the wing in the top six?
It’s an interesting idea. If anything, Jared Bednar should now have a ton of options in the top nine. Since injuries will inevitably happen during the season, Schwartz allows the Avalanche to figure out potential shifts around the lineup throughout the season.
Plus, Colorado gets another solid, reliable forward. There is so much to love about this signing that it will only get better as time passes.
This might be a bit of a biased opinion, but Joe Sakic may have just pulled off the best value signing of the entire 2026 NHL free agent season.
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