Avalanche Sign College UFAs Isak Posch and Cooper Gay

Signing college free agents has always been common this time of year. Even before the Avalanche became a perennial Stanley Cup contender, they often turned to that route for added depth in their prospect pool.

But now more than ever, when the cupboards are bare after years of trading away your best assets, signing College free agents has become more of a necessity.

The payoff isn’t always a hit but when you find a gem, it could help fill a massive need for years to come. Two of Colorado’s 18 regulars were college free agents who came in through the pipeline after signing with the Avalanche. One of them is already a Stanley Cup champion.

The Avs announced on Tuesday that a couple of college free agents agreed to terms on a two-year entry-level contract. Both will have their contracts begin next season.

The first, Cooper Gay, is a 23-year old who was invited to Colorado’s development camp last fall. The team has had its eye on the 6’4, 209-pound forward throughout the season as he elevated his game to new heights.

Gay just finished his junior year at the University of St. Thomas, where he amassed career highs in goals (19), assists (11), and points (30) in 35 games. He had more points this season than he did in his first two years combined.

The second, Isak Posch, was one of the more underrated netminders in College this year. At 23 years old, Posch had a 12-10-0 record with St. Cloud State University, but the record doesn’t tell the whole story. The Swedish native had a .923 save percentage, which ranked second in the NCHC conference. He was also one of four goalies to record multiple shutouts, finishing with three.

Both are expected to be key pieces of the Avs’ system next year, whether in the AHL or ECHL.

On the low end, they’ll provide depth and veteran leadership for a farm team without as many prospects coming through it these days. But on the high end, they could eventually transform into championship-caliber players worthy of long-term extensions like Logan O’Connor or key depth pieces like Sam Malinski.