Colorado Avalanche roster moves ahead of final cuts

The Colorado Avalanche were busy this weekend, making a series of roster moves. The transactions likely come as precursors to the final cuts in the coming days.

While the moves are largely depth ones, they could have an impact on the club’s overall structure heading into opening night.

So, let’s run down the transactions the Colorado Avalanche made this weekend.

Colorado Avalanche roster moves ahead of final cuts

Two players reassigned to the Colorado Eagles

Insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Avs had reassigned TJ Tynan and Chris Wagner. Tynan’s reassignment is no surprise. He wasn’t expected to compete for a roster spot this season. Despite a rather encouraging showing at camp, Tynan could benefit from much more playing time in the AHL.

As for Wagner, it was a mild surprise to see him sent down. However, the move makes sense as the emergence of Ivan Ivan and Calum Ritchie’s positive development could potentially take up two spots in the Avs’ lineup. Ultimately, Wagner gets squeezed out of the lineup.

Colorado claims Ludvig from Pittsburgh Penguins

The Colorado Avalanche claimed blueliner John Ludvig from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Ludvig had been a casualty of the Pens’ roster cuts this weekend. So, the Avs picked up the 24-year-old defenseman.

At first, the move seemed surprising. Ludvig is in the final year of a two-year, $775K AAV deal. As a former third-round pick of the Florida Panthers, Ludvig never really caught on with the Panthers or Penguins. Last season, Ludvig played 33 games for the Pens, registering five points.

However, the following move made Ludvig’s pickup logical, as Ludvig figures to make the club as the seventh defenseman.

Avs trade Brannstrom to Vancouver Canucks

This move was a bit of a head-scratcher for me. The Avs traded Brannstrom to Vancouver for fellow blueliner Tucker Poolman and a fourth-round pick in 2025.

The pick, while always useful, seems inconsequential insofar as moving Brannstrom. Initially, I thought it was a camp dump. However, Poolman comes with a higher cap hit than Brannstrom. So, it seems the cap dump was the other way around. The Canucks needed to clear space and the Avs cashed in.

Poolman is currently out with a head injury. Most likely, he’ll start the season on LTIR and eventually work his way into the lineup. As such, Ludvig’s arrival makes sense as the third pairing likely becomes Oliver Kylington and Calvin de Haan.

Now, I might be getting ahead of myself here, but it seems to me this move also paves the way for Sam Malinski to make the team. I think Malinski has a real shot at making it. However, it remains to be seen if Malinski survives the next round of cuts with Ludvig and de Haan potentially becoming the seventh and eighth defensemen.