{"id":645476,"date":"2026-08-19T05:57:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T05:57:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/645476\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T05:57:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T05:57:23","slug":"2026-27-colorado-avalanche-season-preview-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/645476\/","title":{"rendered":"2026-27 Colorado Avalanche Season Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Colorado Avalanche enter the 2026\u201327 season with a refreshed roster after a busy offseason that saw them trade away veteran forwards for younger, cost-controlled pieces while adding experienced depth on a budget. The moves were driven by salary cap management, allowing them to keep their elite core intact while injecting youth and energy into the supporting cast.<\/p>\n

Key Additions<\/p>\n

Jaden Schwartz (LW) \u2013 Signed a three-year, $9 million deal ($3 million AAV) on July 1st. The 34-year-old Stanley Cup winner brings veteran leadership, two-way play, and top-nine scoring punch, and is expected to slot on the third line.<\/p>\n

Fedor Svechkov (C) \u2013 Acquired from Nashville in the Jack Drury trade on June 26th. The 23-year-old center adds youth, speed, and middle-six depth, pushing for a top-nine role.<\/p>\n

Zachary L\u2019Heureux (LW) \u2013 Also acquired from Nashville in the Drury trade. The 23-year-old left-wing brings physicality, grit, and bottom-six depth.<\/p>\n

Fabian Lysell (RW) \u2013 Acquired from Boston on June 27th in exchange for Ivan Ivan. The 23-year-old former first-round pick adds speed, skill, and offensive upside on the wing, pushing for a middle-six role.<\/p>\n

Brent Burns (RD) \u2013 Signed a one-year, $2 million deal on June 26th. The 41-year-old veteran provides power-play quarterbacking, offensive upside, and mentorship on the right side.<\/p>\n

Brett Kulak (LD) \u2013 Signed a five-year, $13.75 million deal ($2.75 million AAV) on June 26th. The 32-year-old left-shot defenseman adds stability, physicality, and top-four minutes.<\/p>\n

Noah Juulsen (RD) \u2013 Signed a one-year, two-way deal. The 29-year-old right-shot defenseman provides depth and versatility on the blue line.<\/p>\n

NHL Rumors: The Plan from the Dallas Stars to Keep Jason Robertson Long-Term<\/a><\/p>\n

Key Subtractions<\/p>\n

Valeri Nichushkin (RW) \u2013 Traded to Columbus on June 26 for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third, and a 2028 fifth. The 28-year-old had 19 goals and 44 points in 64 games last season, but his $6.125 million cap hit was burdensome. The move subtracts the final four seasons of his eight-year contract.<\/p>\n

Ross Colton (C) \u2013 Traded to Nashville on June 16 for goaltender Magnus Chrona and 2026\/2027 third-round picks. The 29-year-old scored 21 goals and 44 points in 78 games, a significant loss of middle-six scoring and penalty-kill depth.<\/p>\n

Jack Drury (C) \u2013 Traded to Nashville on June 26 for Svechkov and L\u2019Heureux. The 26-year-old had 12 goals and 28 points in 76 games, providing depth at center.<\/p>\n

Joel Kiviranta (LW) \u2013 Returned to Dallas in free agency, thinning left-wing depth.<\/p>\n

Ivan Ivan (C\/LW) \u2013 Dealt to Boston for Lysell, removing a depth forward.<\/p>\n

Core Retained<\/p>\n

Colorado kept its elite core intact, with Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Gabriel Landeskog, Martin Necas, and Artturi Lehkonen. Nicolas Roy and Nazem Kadri provide veteran center depth.<\/p>\n

Impact on 2026\u201327<\/p>\n

The Avalanche\u2019s offseason moves were a calculated retool, shedding salary and age for youth and flexibility. Schwartz adds veteran scoring, while Svechkov, L\u2019Heureux, and Lysell inject energy and upside. Expect Colorado to remain a top contender in the Central Division, with a deeper, more balanced lineup pushing for another deep playoff run.<\/p>\n

Salary Cap Situation<\/p>\n

Projected cap hit \u2013 $103,595,841
Roster \u2013 22\/23
Projected cap space \u2013 $404,159
Deadline cap space \u2013 $1,866,830<\/p>\n

2026-27 Colorado Avalanche Season Preview<\/a><\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/p>\n

\"Colorado<\/a><\/p>\n

Colorado Avalanche Depth Chart from PuckPedia.com<\/a> \u2013 Aug. 12th<\/p>\n

Top Colorado Avalanche prospects<\/p>\n

Hayden Soboleski
Dobber Prospects<\/a>
Aug. 8th, 2026
\nSteven Ellis
Daily Faceoff<\/a>
July 15th, 2026
\nMcKeen\u2019s Hockey<\/a>
Apr. 25th, 2026
\nScott Wheeler
The Athletic<\/a>
Mar. 13th, 2026<\/p>\n

1
\nGavin Brindley (C)
\nIlya Nabokov (G)
\nIlya Nabokov (G)
\nGavin Brindley (C)<\/p>\n

2
\nTJ Hughes (RW)
\nEgor Shilov (C)
\nMikhail Gulyayev (LHD)
\nIlya Nabokov (G)<\/p>\n

3
\nIlya Nabokov (G)
\nBeckett Hamilton (C)
\nSean Behrens (LHD)
\nMikhail Gulyayev (LHD)<\/p>\n

4
\nChristian Humphreys (RW)
\nTobias Tvrznik (G)
\nFrancesco Dell\u2019Elce (LHD)
\nSean Behrens (LHD)<\/p>\n

5
\nEgor Shilov (C)
\nMikhail Gulyayev (LHD)
\nTrent Miner (G)
\nFrancesco Dell\u2019Elce (LHD)<\/p>\n

6
\nTrent Miner (G)
\nFrancesco Dell\u2019Elce (LHD)
\nNikita Prishchepov (C)
\nTrent Miner (G)<\/p>\n

7
\nFabian Lysell (RW)
\nAxel Elofsson (RHD)
\nChristian Humphreys (RW)
\nNikita Prishchepov (C\/LW)<\/p>\n

8
\nMikhail Gulyayev (LHD)
\nFabian Lysell (RW)
\nLouka Cloutier (G)
\nLouka Cloutier (G)<\/p>\n

9
\nBeckett Hamilton (C)
\nSean Behrens (LHD)
\nAlex Gagne (LHD)
\nJack Fisher (C)<\/p>\n

10
\nFrancesco Dell\u2019Elce (LHD)
\nNikita Prishchepov (LW)
\nLinus Funck (RHD)
\nChristian Humphreys (RW)<\/p>\n

Read more on the top Colorado Avalanche prospects<\/a> heading into the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n

We had to restart our X account. Please follow @MyNHLRumorsX<\/a><\/p>\n

Have you\u00a0subscribed to our YouTube channel<\/a>? Rumor roundups and hot topics from around the league. We\u2019re also posting some stuff on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you love our reporting, choose NHLrumors.com as a preferred source on Google.<\/a><\/p>\n