The Colorado Avalanche are unfortunately a few weeks removed from the 2023-24 NHL playoffs. It’s close to draft season. While their players are resting up before activities get ramped up again for next season, the 2024 NHL Draft is only one short month away. It is held on June 28th and 29th.
The Avalanche have some decisions to make and also have to brace for potential losses even if they attempt to re-sign some players. It is entirely possible that one or a couple of their free agents decides it is time to move on to a new team.
Unfortunately, three players the Avalanche acquired at the 2023-24 trade deadline (Sean Walker, Yakov Trenin, and Brandon Duhaime) are all scheduled to become free agents. Casey Mittelstadt is a restricted free agent, so it appears in all likelihood that he will be back… but you never know.
#3 spot the Colorado Avalanche need to address in the 2024 NHL Draft: A bottom defenseman
When it comes to the Colorado Avalanche and their defensemen, a couple of names stand out: Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Sam Girard, and Sean Walker. As I stated above, Walker is scheduled to hit free agency. The other three are good to go and they have a strong prospect in Sam Malinski waiting in the wings to get his turn.
But, in the NHL, drafted prospects most of the time sit out of the NHL for at least a year unless they are as talented as someone like Connor Bedard. With the Colorado Avalanche selecting 24th overall in the first round, that isn’t a prime spot that screams, “Get this player on the ice immediately.”
I am excited to see what comes from Sam Malinski in the future, and if all things go well, he will be re-signed past this season, as he is scheduled to become a free agent in 2025.