Avalanche Re-Sign Shane Bowers

This figures to be the most pivotal, important season in the still-young career of Shane Bowers, the former first-round draftee who came over to the Colorado Avalanche in the Matt Duchene trade several years ago. Bowers, 23, signed a new one-year, two-way contract with the Avalanche on Wednesday

Our friends at PuckPedia say the new deal has a $750,000 salary at the NHL level, and $100,000 at the minor-pro level.

Bowers, drafted 28th overall by Ottawa in 2017, has yet to play a game in the NHL. In the last two seasons, spent with the Colorado Eagles, Bowers has produced only 13 goals and 18 points in 65 games. He has spent considerable time on the injured list in the two seasons. He did post four points in four playoff games for the Eagles this year, however, and in the end the Avalanche didn’t want to give up on the centerman just yet.

This coming season might be his last, best chance at cracking an NHL roster, and it won’t be easy on an Avalanche team coming off a Stanley Cup championship. Bowers is coming off an entry-level contract that saw him earn a base salary of $832,500.

Shane Bowers was a restricted free agent. He has fast wheels and good instincts. It’s just a matter of getting it together and showing something when he gets a chance – either in the preseason, an extended time with the Eagles or in the case of a call-up.