Logan O’Connor earns high praise from teammates: ‘I love him to death’

Logan O’Connor has earned everything he has in hockey. That’s been the common theme among his teammates and coach since the Avalanche announced his six-year, $15 million extension on Monday. On the ice, O’Connor is a hard-working, two-way forward who you could rely on to give it his all each and every shift. He’s among the top penalty killers on the team and is always willing to stand up for his teammates.

But off the ice — as is the common theme with him — O’Connor has earned everything people say about him. His character makes him an easy person to like.

“I love that guy to death,” Cale Makar said of his fellow Calgarian.

Makar called O’Connor a true leader in the room and someone everyone can rely on. And for him, a friend.

“He’s one of my best buddies, and and always will be,” Makar said. “He’s earned what he’s got. He’s one of the hardest-working guys out there. And he competes every single shift. We missed him in the playoffs last year.”

The AAV of O’Connor’s contract is what many consider to be a bargain deal. That in itself is not lost on the guys in the dressing room. You don’t often hear NHL players talk about the business side of the game so openly, but Makar, who needs a new contract in 2027, was very forward about O’Connor’s acceptance for more security as a tradeoff for a lower cap hit.

“Obviously, we’re tight with everything so it’s a great deal for both sides,” Makar said. “Obviously he earned the upgrade (in pay) and for us, it’s a great deal where we have the flexibility to add some guys and put some good guys around him too.”

O’Connor also didn’t shy away from questions about the tradeoff of lesser pay for more security. He calls Denver home now. It’s where he went to school, where he met his wife, won a Stanley Cup, and got married.

“We’re gonna have an opportunity to win every year here throughout the contract and for me that’s massive,” he said.

O’Connor’s chemistry with Miles Wood and Ross Colton is well documented. But given the absences of Valeri Nichuhskin, Gabriel Landeskog and possibly Artturi Lehkonen to start the year, O’Connor might end up in the top six to start. Specifically, on the wing with Casey Mittelstadt.

Colorado’s No. 2 center was acquired from Buffalo in a one-for-one swap for Bowen Byram on March 6. Two days prior, O’Connor played his last game before having season-ending surgery. Mittelstadt has never actually played a game with O’Connor before, but O’Connor’s character has already helped build a bond between the two.

“It’s pretty easy, especially with him,” Mittelstadt said. “He’s an awesome dude, and I feel like he’s really gone out of his way to welcome me and talk to me and hang around me.”

Head coach Jared Bednar was elated to hear about the extension. He considers O’Connor a home-grown talent and was happy for the person off the ice as much as he was for the hard-working hockey player. But most importantly, he highlighted how the 28-year-old forward has earned his place.

“Very Proud. A well-deserved deal,” Bednar said following Monday’s preseason opener. “Even in the NHL, he’s developed his game. Started as a fourth line winger. Next thing you know, he’s playing up and moving around in different areas of our game, on the penalty kill. Now he’s on the third line, and he just keeps working hard and trying to get better.

“He’s a great story for us.”