Most of the Colorado Avalanche’s lineup is set in stone. There really might only be one question mark if you omit the absence of Logan O’Connor, who will be out for a while because of hip surgery. He is expected back sometime between November and December. O’Connor had played in 80 games this past season, scoring 10 goals and adding 11 helpers.
Right now, it appears that Joel Kiviranta is slotted in at the right wing position. The big question I think is whether or not the Avalanche feel Kiviranta has done enough to secure that spot in the lineup. Though he had a career-year in 2024-25, I think that you have to put an asterisk by his name due to the fact that injuries played a big part in why he played in 79 games.
It’s certainly possible that he shows up at training camp and outperforms others trying to earn a role on the team. It’s just important to think about the circumstances that resulted in his playing time. Who knows? Maybe head coach Jared Bednar fell in love with Kiviranta’s game and he has a nice role locked up in 2025-26. The team did re-sign him this offseason, though he was a restricted free agent.
Another possibility is the team looking at the free agent market for fourth line depth. These players are not meant to be a huge impact on a team—otherwise, they’d be on a team already. Some players are just trying to catch on with a team to continue their careers.
Jack Roslovic could be an option. Just 29 years old, Roslovic has spent time with the Winnipeg Jets (first-round pick in 2015), Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, and Carolina Hurricanes. He had 22 goals and 17 assists in 81 games for Carolina last season. He, along with two other players, was connected to the Avalanche by Nestor Quixtan over here at Mile High Sticking in May.
Lastly, the Avalanche signed wing Victor Olofsson in the offseason. He’s another player who could provide a bit of depth on the fourth line. However, his health remains a concern. He played in 56 games this past season and 51 the season prior. That’s not ideal. He’s only played over 70 games in a season twice in his seven-year career. He’s not ruled out as a depth piece, obviously, so maybe he is able to get things going for Colorado and remain healthy.
It’s not a must that the Avalanche sign a player for the entire season. They could bring in for a professional tryout (PTO). With training camp so close from now, it wouldn’t surprise me if they chose to do that. However, other teams are doing that same exact thing, so watch the transaction wire to monitor who’s available and a possibility for the Avalanche.
Hockey is right around the corner, Avalanche fans!