Roster Is Set. Avalanche Open 2025-26 Season With 3 Rookies, 3 Goalies

The Avalanche’s 2025-26 roster is set. Colorado opens the season with 13 forwards, seven defensemen, and three goalies.

Scott Wedgewood will begin the season as the starter with Trent Miner, a rookie, backing up.

Colorado’s usual starter Mackenzie Blackwood is also on the roster despite being unavailable for at least opening night.

Among the forward group, the team enters the year with two rookies. Zakhar Bardakov, 24, will center the fourth line and make his NHL debut after making his way over from the KHL. Bardakov was always going to get the first opportunity after the Charlie Coyle trade. He was the first name that general manager Chris MacFarland mentioned in late June as an option to round out the group down the middle.

But he still had to earn the spot. And he did exactly that with his play in preseason after making a good impression when training camp began.

The other rookie is a little bit more of a surprise. Gavin Brindley, who turned 21 on Sunday, will be one of the 13 forwards available Tuesday for opening night.

Brindley was the key piece acquired in the Miles Wood and Coyle trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The smaller, but more skilled forward was one of the bigger surprises in camp.

Head coach Jared Bednar credited him for earning a spot “for now” as the team starts the season without the injured Logan O’Connor. Both Brindley and Joel Kiviranta practiced on the fourth line right wing spot alongside Parker Kelly and Bardakov.

O’Connor starts the season on IR as he continues to rehab from offseason hip surgery.

For the goalies, Blackwood took part in the full-team skate for the first time since camp began, albeit his movement was a little limited, and he left the ice early.

Blackwood won’t travel to L.A. for Tuesday’s opener. He’ll stay back with goalie coach Jussi Parkkila to continue to work towards a return, which Bednar has stressed should be soon.

The fact that he’s not on IR bodes well for him. If he was, he would be ineligible to play in the first three games.

On defense, Jack Ahcan is the extra.

Recent waiver claim Ilya Solovyov, also a rookie, is a natural left-shot defenseman with little NHL experience. He begins the year on the non-roster list and will likely replace Ahcan once his visa status is completed.

Solovyov is likely next in line to enter the lineup if Sam Malinski doesn’t do well on his off-side.

Here’s the full Avalanche roster for opening night, with line combinations from Monday’s practice included.

The last notable roster cut was Keaton Middleton, who was sent to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles after clearing waivers.

Forwards

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton — Jack Drury — Victor Olofsson
Parker Kelly — Zakhar Bardakov — Joel Kiviranta/Gavin Brindley

Defensemen

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Sam Malinski — Brent Burns
Jack Ahcan

Goalies

Scott Wedgewood
Trent Miner
Mackenzie Blackwood

IR: Logan O’Connor

Non roster: Ilya Solovyov