The Avalanche are keeping Sam Malinki for the foreseeable future. The team announced on Tuesday that the 27-year-old defenseman signed a four-year contract extension. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Malinski’s new deal is worth $4.75 million per season, which will make him the fourth-highest-paid Colorado blueliner under contract for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
“Sam is a hard-working defenseman who has great skating and puck-moving ability, general manager Chris MacFarland said in a team release. “His commitment to the defensive side of the game has turned him into a reliable defenseman for us. We’re excited to have him under contract for the following four seasons.”
The Avs signed Malinski as an undrafted college free agent on March 30, 2023. He instantly became a fan favorite with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, posting three goals and five points in seven games. But his game has continued to grow since then.
In 2023-24, Malinski appeared in 46 AHL games and had 27 points. He also got a taste of NHL action, making his debut with the Avalanche, where he played 23 games and had 10 points. The following season, Malinski became an NHL regular. He ressed in 76 regular-season games and was mostly on the third pair. He went on to make his playoff debut in the first round series against the Dallas Stars.
This season, he took his game to the next level. Malinski entered 2025-26 on a one-year, $1.4 million contract that would’ve walked him right to UFA status. He scored his first goal of the season on opening night and hasn’t looked back. Malinski has dressed in all 50 games to date, already recording career highs in assists (21), points (24), plus minus (+26), and time on ice (16:43 per game).
He was eligible for a contract extension on Jan. 1, and his play made it difficult for the team to allow him to enter free agency. Malinski has spent the past several weeks alongside Cale Makar on the top pair in Devon Toews’ absence.
