As the Colorado Avalanche gear up for another hopefully-long playoff push, the front office in Denver utilized the team's limited cap space and already-depleted draft capital to bolster what might just be one of the most well-rounded rosters in franchise history. The message is clear: one Stanley Cup championship is not enough for this current crop of franchise players; the team is in win-now mode, and the team's future is worth gambling when there is another chance at hockey immortality at stake. With that in mind, here is a cursory look at the five most recently acquired players that the big brass in Denver believes is best suited to deliver a fourth Stanley Cup parade to the fine folks of the Mile High City.
Valtteri Puustinen
Puustinen will likely never be a major contributor to the Avs, especially not with this current, depth-laden roster, but he will likely get opportunities, sparse as they may be, to crack the Avs lineup, much like many other AHL call-ups have had in the past handful of seasons. This is all presupposing they re-sign him for next season, which is certainly not a given, but he has played well, thus far, with the Colorado Eagles. In 17 games in Loveland, he has four goals, six assists, and ten points, which is about the level of production the Avs front office hoped for for a still-developing player like Puustinen. Time will tell if he makes a bigger splash on an NHL sheet of ice.
Background, Bio, and Birth:
- June 4, 1999 (26 years old) in
Kuopio, Finland
- Right-shot winger
- 5’9”/5’10” 183 pounds
Draft:
2019 NHL Entry Draft
Seventh Round, 203rd Overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins
Debut:
March 11, 2022 with the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Vegas Golden Knights
- He recorded an assist in his debut
Teams:
Europe
HPK Hameenlinna (2018-19 – 2020-21)
AHL
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (2021-22 – 2025-26)
Colorado Eagles (2025-26)
NHL
Pittsburgh Penguins (2021-22, 2023-24 – 2024-25)
Career Stats:
7G, 17A, 24P in 66GP
Colorado Acquisition:
Jan 20, 2026: Traded with a 2026 7th Round Pick from Pittsburgh for Ilya Solovyov
Colorado Details:
Jersey Number
#83 (Colorado Eagles)
Colorado Contributions:
N/A
Prior Ties to Current Avs Players:
N/A
Fun Fact:
Led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in scoring in both the 2021-22 (42P in 73GP) and 2022-23 (59P in 72GP) seasons
Brett Kulak
Brett Kulak, a veteran defenseman who has a wealth of playoff experience (especially in the last few seasons as a member of the Edmonton Oilers), was brought in as a cheaper, more defensively-responsible replacement for Samuel Girard. Kulak brings height, a touch of physicality, and high hockey-IQ. While the main knock against Girard was his increased propensity for turning over pucks.
His 89 giveaways last season formed a new career worst and placed him 58th worst out of 291 qualified defensemen; in addition, out of the 57 defensemen who had more turnovers than he, only 12 of them had less takeaways than Girard (24): Jamie Oleksiak (23), Matt Roy (15), Dougie Hamilton (20), Braden Schnieder (19), Dmitry Orlov (21), Andrew Peeke (15), Morgan Rielly (20), Niko Mikkola (15), Philip Broberg (22), Radko Gudas (15), Brandon Carlo (21), Ilya Lyubushkin (20) — meaning he was one of the worst defensemen in the NHL last season in terms of giveaways minus takeaways. Kulak, in 2024-25, was only marginally better (ranked 76th overall), but his cheaper salary helped the Avs pay to bring in the other names included on this list.
Background, Bio, and Birth:
- Born January 6, 1994 (32 years old) in Edmonton, Alberta
- Left-shot defenseman
- 6'2” 192 pounds
Draft:
2012 NHL Entry Draft
Fourth Round, 105th Overall
by the Calgary Flames
Debut:
April 11, 2015 with the Calgary Flames against the Winnipeg Jets
- Was the final game of the 2014-15 regular season
Teams:
WHL
Vancouver Giants (2010-11 -- 2013-14)
AHL
Abbotsford Heat/Adirondak Flames/Stockton (2012-13 – 2016-17)
Laval Rocket (2018-19)
NHL
Calgary Flames (2014-15 – 2017-18)
Montreal Canadiens (2018-19 – 2021-22)
Edmonton Oilers (2021-22 – 2025-26)
Pittsburgh Penguins (2025-26)
Career Stats:
29G, 107A, 136P in 643GP
Colorado Acquisition:
February 24, 2026: Traded from Pittsburgh for Sam Girard and a 2028 2nd Round Pick
Colorado Details:
Jersey Number
#27
Deployment
Third-pair (with Sam Malinski)
0G, 2A, 2P in 9GP
Prior Ties to Current Avs Players:
Artturi Lehkonen
Montreal Canadiens (2018-19 – 2021-22)
Fun Fact:
Spent 39 games with the ECHL Colorado Eagles (who were then an affiliate of the Calgary Flames) in 2014-15
Nick Blankenburg
Nick Blankenburg, who made his Avs debut against the Seattle Kraken on March 12, provides some added defensive depth — something that no team can ever have too much of if they plan to do damage and make noise in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He provides a bit of NHL-caliber support to a franchise that does have some solid AHL defensive prospects but needed someone who could play big-league minutes if needed. In Nashville, he quarterbacked the Predator's second powerplay unit; while that kind of opportunity is not going to be there for him in Colorado, he is offensively capable in that way. He'll serve as the team's seventh defenseman as the season winds down (meaning he'll be watching most of the games from the press box), and, if all goes according to plan, he likely won't see any playoff deployment, but he'll be practicing with the team and will be ready when/if called upon. The Avs utilized seven defensemen in that game against the Kraken, presumably as a way to utilize both he and Kulak as some trials before the games start to really matter come May and hopefully June.
Background, Bio, and Birth:
- Born May 12, 1998 (27 years old) in Washington, Michigan
- Right-shot defenseman
- 5’9” 176 pounds
Draft:
Undrafted; Signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 8, 2022
Debut:
April 13, 2022 with the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Montreal Canadiens
- He recorded an assist in his debut
Teams:
AJHL
Okotoks Oilers (2017-18)
NCAA
University of Michigan (2018-19 – 2021-22)
NHL
Columbus Blue Jackets (2021-22 – 2023-24)
Nashville Predators (2024-25 and 2025-26)
AHL
Cleveland Monsters (2023-24)
Milwaukee Admirals (2024-25)
Career Stats:
16G, 39A, 55P in 164GP
Colorado Acquisition:
March 4, 2026: Traded from Nashville for a 2027 5th Round Pick
Colorado Details:
Jersey Number
#37
Deployment
Seventh defenseman
Colorado Contributions:
0G, 0A, 0P in 1GP
Prior Ties to Current Avs Players:
Gavin Brindley
Columbus Blue Jackets (2023-24)
Scott Wedgewood
Nashville Predators (2024-25)
Fun Fact:
Worked as a Zamboni driver to pay his way through U18 AAA
Nicolas Roy
Nicolas Roy wasn't an original "Misfit" member of the Vegas Golden Knights, but he came over before the start of Vegas' third season in the league, and he spent six full seasons in Sin City, which has him currently ranked 11th in all-time games played for VGK. While that position will drop more and more with each passing season, it does indicate how vital a piece he was on that team, including the one that took home the Stanley Cup in 2023, just one season after the Avs, themselves, ascended to the pinnacle of the hockey world. Roy began this season on the Toronto Maple Leafs (after the sign-and-trade that sent Mitch Marner to Nevada), and he was seen as part of what was a planned attempt to replace Marner 'by committee' alongside fellow new Leafs players Mattias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua, Sammy Blais, etc. Things have not gone according to plan in the post-Core Four era in Toronto, so, for the first time in almost a decade, the Leafs were sellers at this year's deadline, and Colorado took advantage by nabbing Roy, who has an additional season under contract at a very-reasonable $3mil AAV.
Background, Bio, and Birth:
- Born February 5, 1997 (29 years old) in Amos, Quebec
- Right-shot center/winger
- 6'4" 201 pounds
Draft:
2015 NHL Entry Draft
Fourth Round, 96th Overall by the Carolina Hurricanes
Debut:
April 7, 2018 with the Carolina Hurricanes against the Tampa Bay Lightning
- Was the final game of the 2017-18 regular season
Teams:
QMJHL
Chicoutimi Sagueneens (2013-14 – 2016-17)
AHL
Charlotte Checkers (2015-16, 2017-18 and 2018-19)
Chicago Wolves (2019-20)
NHL
Carolina Hurricanes (2017-18 and 2018-19)
Vegas Golden Knights (2019-20 – 2024-25)
Toronto Maple Leafs (2025-26)
Career Stats:
74G, 113A, 187P in 430GP
Colorado Acquisition:
March 5, 2026: Traded from Toronto for a 2026 5th Round Pick and a 2027 1st Round Pick
Colorado Details:
Jersey Number
#10
Deployment
Currently third-line center. Projected third-line right-wing with a fully-healthy roster
Colorado Contributions:
2G, 0A, 2P in 4GP
Prior Ties to Current Avs Players:
Martin Nečas
Carolina Hurricanes (2017-18 and 2018-19)
Charlotte Checkers (2018-19)
Fun Fact:
His name, from French to English, translates to "Victorious King"
Nazem Kadri
So much has already been said about Nazem Kadri as a member of the Colorado Avalanche. He rewrote the somewhat-justified narrative from his time with the Maple Leafs that he couldn't play under pressure in the playoffs (after multiple playoff suspensions soured his relationship in Toronto), he scored a buzzer-beater goal that gave the Avs the win in their first postseason game during the COVID-19-altered 2020 NHL Playoffs, he had a water bottle thrown at him by Jordan Binnington, he came back and scored an overtime game winner just 18 days after thumb surgery to give the Avs a 3-1 series lead over Tampa Bay in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals, he wore this shirt when celebrating the team's Stanley Cup victory, and the list goes on and on. He was such a beloved player despite only playing three seasons in Denver; he is adored by Avs fans, and they are stoked to have him back.
Background, Bio, and Birth:
- Born October 6, 1990 (35 years old) in London, Ontario
- Left-shot center
- 6'0” 185 pounds
Draft:
2009 NHL Entry Draft
First Round, 7th Overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs
Debut:
February 8, 2010 with the Toronto Maple Leafs against the San Jose Sharks
Teams:
OHL
Kitchener Rangers (2006-07 and 2007-08)
London Knights (2008-09 and 2009-10)
AHL
Toronto Marlies (2010-11 – 2012-13)
NHL
Toronto Maple Leafs (2009-10 – 2018-19)
Colorado Avalanche (2019-20 – 2021-22)
Calgary Flames (2022-23 – 2025-26)
Career Stats:
319G, 433A, 752P, 1047GP
Colorado Acquisition:
March 6, 2026: Traded with a 2027 4th Round Pick from CGY for Victor Olofsson, Max Curran, a conditional 2027 2nd Round Pick, and a conditional 2028 1st Round Pick. Calgary retains $1.4mil for the remaining three years of the contract
Colorado Details:
Jersey Number
#91
Deployment
Currently first-line left-wing. Projected third-line center with a fully-healthy roster
Colorado Contributions (2025-26):
1G, 1A, 2P in 3GP
Prior Ties to Current Avs Players (Besides the Obvious Ones):
N/A
Fun Fact:
When he helped the Colorado Avalanche win the 2022 Stanley Cup, he became the first Muslim player to do so.
Early returns for the four of these players who have played at least one game for the Avs have been strong. As the Avs gear of for the long, arduous playoff grind as the end of the 2025-26 season looms, these players — especially Nazem Kadri, Brett Kulak, and Nicolas Roy — will be important components of the team and its chase for the Avs' fourth Stanley Cup Championship.
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