Avalanche News
Drouin Is Back! Avalanche To Re-Sign Winger For One Year
The Colorado Avalanche have found a way to keep the Halifax boys together for at least one more season.
According to multiple NHL Insiders, the Avalanche and Jonathan Drouin have agreed on a one-year contract that will keep the 29 year old winger in Colorado for another season. With Colorado’s cap issues, a one-year deal allows both sides to keep this relationship going and maybe find a longer-term solution next summer when there’s a little more clarity with the situations involving Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin.
According to The Athletic’s Pierre Lebrun, it will be at $2.5 million per season. A huge bargain considering some of the contracts being thrown around today. UPDATE: As expected, the Avalanche confirmed the deal about an hour later.
Because it’s a one-year deal, Drouin will be eligible to sign a contract extension with the Avalanche on January 1. Drouin is coming off a career best season where he posted 56 points in 79 games. He was injured in the final regular season game of the year, but returned against Dallas and picked up three assists in three games.
Quite frankly, the Avalanche needed to get something like this done to stay competitive next year. With the uncertainty at wing, bringing back Drouin at a reasonable number gives Nathan MacKinnon a linemate he works well with to start the year. Both Artturi Lehkonen and Logan O’Connor will be coming off major surgeries by the time training camp opens up. MacKinnon recently called Drouin the best teammate he’s ever had, and that will continue for at least one more year.
Chris MacFarland is scheduled to speak to the local media later today at Family Sports Center, and we’ll see if Colorado makes any additional moves on July 1. We’ll have a heck of a lot more on this contract in the near future, but for now, Colorado has made one of the smarter moves you’ll see today.