Kelly has still had a strong start to this postseason, even without the goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a weird thing,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cLike, you want to help out the guys on the score sheet. But I\u2019ve said this before, I wasn\u2019t most proud of the number of goals I had this year. I was just proud of being consistent and being good at both ends of the ice. I mean with playoffs, you start thinking more after a couple games, but I\u2019ve been happy with what I\u2019ve done defensively, on the kill has been really great. There\u2019s so much more to my game than scoring.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Center](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TDP-L-AvsVsWild-20260503-TH-09.jpg\")
Center Parker Kelly (17) of the Colorado Avalanche tries to put defenseman Brock Faber (7) of the Minnesota Wild into the boards during the first period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst\/The Denver Post)<\/p>\n
Kelly and Logan O\u2019Connor flank Jack Drury on Colorado\u2019s fourth line. They are Jared Bednar\u2019s \u201cidentity line\u201d and scoring goals is not at the top of the list of their objectives. They will chip in \u2014 O\u2019Connor had a big one against Los Angeles, Drury had a nifty one in Game 1 against Minnesota \u2014 but their priorities start with strong defense, strong forechecking and energy.<\/p>\n
Their job is to tilt the ice in Colorado\u2019s direction. Goals are a bonus. A perfect shift for them starts in the defensive zone and ends with an offensive zone faceoff they\u2019ll never see. Get the puck to that end of the ice, and force the goalie to cover it up or, even better, an opposing player to ice it.<\/p>\n
Then they head for the bench, one of the scoring lines comes out to try and capitalize on what they started.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think in general, he\u2019s not a guy that equates goal scoring to playing well,\u201d O\u2019Connor said. \u201cI think there\u2019s plenty more intangibles that signify if he\u2019s playing well. It\u2019s hard on pucks, finishing checks, getting in the dirty areas, creating momentum for the other lines, being good defensively, being good on the penalty kill. I think those are all things he\u2019s done a great job of. Hasn\u2019t had a chance to capitalize on his opportunities yet, but as long as you\u2019re getting them, you can\u2019t really be too particular this time of year. Five-on-five goal scoring is so hard to come by right now. And I think if our line continues to build things the way we have been here, we\u2019ll find the back of the net soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kelly found his way in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators. It took until his third season to become an everyday guy, and the Senators decided not to tender him a qualifying offer in June 2024, so he went from being a pending restricted free agent to unrestricted.<\/p>\n
He signed a two-year contract with the Avs on July 1, 2024. He was such a great fit with Colorado<\/a> the club signed him to a four-year extension on July 1, 2025, the first day he was eligible<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kelly was one of the best bargains in hockey this year, scoring 21 goals despite making just $825,000. Even with his raise to $1.7 million per season that kicks in next year, Kelly is on a cap-friendly deal.<\/p>\n He\u2019s joined O\u2019Connor as a critical glue guy on a team full of offensive stars.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have so many guys on our team that can score. I have zero pressure,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cObviously I love to score, but realistically, like if I went the whole playoffs with zero goals, I think I would still be proud of my defensive game. I feel like I\u2019ve had chances to score and hopefully one of them will soon. But I\u2019m not putting pressure on myself to, like \u2018I need it. I need it.\u2019 anyway. There\u2019s just always been more to my game than goals and assists.\u201d<\/p>\n