Brandon Saigeon gets a contract, and a promise for more

The Avalanche’s farm club, the Colorado Eagles, signed Brandon Saigeon to a one-year contract today. It’s important to keep in mind: this is not a contract with the Avs – just the Eagles.

But, per a source, there is a promise of more:

The Avs and Saigeon have a tentative, verbal agreement to sign an entry-level contract next spring, per the source. Saigeon was 20 when he was drafted by the Avs in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL draft, which, for Saigeon, was a bummer because it means NHL teams can control your rights for four years instead of three, as an “overager.” The Avs get to have four years of Saigeon’s rights for the price of three – part of the price older players who enter the draft have to deal with.

So, Saigeon’s first year of pro will be with the Eagles, then his next contract should be a two-year ELC, because of his older age (again).

Saigeon looked good in that 3-on-3 intrasquad game in Fort Collins, and he’s a solid prospect overall. Saigeon split his time with the Oshawa Generals and Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL last season, scoring 92 points in 68 games for the two clubs (37 goals).

He’s 6-foot-2, a left-shot centerman. Saigeon is 21 now. He essentially did a solid, too, for the Avs by taking this AHL-only deal. It keeps the number of contracts down to the current 39 (50 is the limit). He will be repaid for that favor with the ELC, unless this season is just a disaster for him.

This will be good for him to get a year of AHL experience on his way to, hopefully, a solid career with the Avs.