Aarif Deen
With most of the offseason behind us, it felt like a good time to look at every player who appeared in a game for the Colorado Avalanche last season and see where each departure landed.
That includes players who were moved during the season. They’re listed in order of regular-season point totals.
Valeri Nichushkin (49 points in 72 GP, 5th on the Avalanche)
The Avalanche traded Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 25 in exchange for second-, third-, and fifth-round picks.
It’s still surreal to think Nichushkin is no longer part of the Avalanche. It’s also a disappointing ending for one of the longest-tenured players on the roster.
Nichushkin arrived in the summer of 2019 on a one-year prove-it contract. He earned a second deal, then eventually a maximum-term extension, becoming one of the organization’s biggest success stories.
When he signed, only Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Logan O’Connor, and Cale Makar were already in the organization. (Nazem Kadri technically arrived earlier that offseason but left before returning four months ago.) Nichushkin became a pillar of Colorado’s core and an integral piece of its Stanley Cup window. Seeing that chapter close is still jarring.
Jack Drury (27 points in 82 GP, 12th place on the Avalanche)
The Avalanche traded Jack Drury, Chase Bradley, and a third-round pick to the Nashville Predators on June 24 in exchange for Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L’Heureux.
Drury always felt like one of the club’s most likely trade candidates once the offseason began.
Colorado, then led by Chris MacFarland, spent much of last season locking up pending free agents, extending Martin Necas, Gavin Brindley, Scott Wedgewood, and Sam Malinski. Josh Manson and Parker Kelly also signed extensions a year before they were eligible for unrestricted free agency.
Drury was the notable exception. He was seeking more than the Avalanche could comfortably commit, and MacFarland ultimately gave him that deal in Nashville. Drury later signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract with the Predators.
Victor Olofsson (25 points in 60 GP, 13th on the Avalanche)
The Avalanche traded Victor Olofsson, Maximilian Curran, and first- and second-round picks to the Calgary Flames on March 6 in exchange for Nazem Kadri and a fourth-round pick. Olofsson signed a one-year, $1.638 million contract on July 1 with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Olofsson returned to Vegas just one year after leaving for Colorado. He provided solid depth scoring for the Avalanche, although his offensive production tailed off after a hot start.
Ross Colton (24 points in 73 GP, 14th on the Avalanche)
The Avalanche traded Ross Colton and Isak Posch to the Nashville Predators on June 16 in exchange for Magnus Chrona and two third-round picks.
Colton spent three seasons in Colorado, but his role steadily diminished each year.
His best stretch came early in the 2024-25 season, when he was producing at an impressive rate alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. An injury derailed that momentum, and he never fully regained it after returning.
Samuel Girard (12 points in 40 GP, 17th on the Avalanche)
The Avalanche traded Samuel Girard and a second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 24 in exchange for Brett Kulak.
This felt inevitable for more than a year. Colorado swapped its undersized, puck-moving defenseman for a bigger, more defensive-minded veteran.
Girard remains in Pittsburgh, while Kulak signed a five-year extension with Colorado worth $500,000 less annually than Girard’s previous cap hit.
Zakhar Bardakov (10 points in 60 GP, 18th on the Avalanche)
Zakhar Bardakov signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL on June 17.
Bardakov’s NHL stint lasted just one season before he returned to Russia after appearing in 60 games. The Avalanche extended him a qualifying offer, retaining his NHL rights.
Joel Kiviranta (9 points in 51 GP, 20th on the Avalanche)
Joel Kiviranta signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1.
Like Olofsson, Kiviranta is returning to his previous NHL club. His time in Colorado lasted three seasons, and he’ll now reunite with former Avalanche teammate Mikko Rantanen in Dallas.
Nick Blankenburg (3 points in 12 GP, T-22nd on the Avalanche)
Nick Blankenburg is still an unrestricted free agent after the Avalanche acquired him ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.
Ilya Solovyov (3 points in 16 GP, T-22nd on the Avalanche)
The Avalanche traded Ilya Solovyov to the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 20 in exchange for Valtteri Puustinen and a seventh-round pick.
Alex Barre-Boulet (1 point in 3 GP, T-27th on the Avalanche)
Alex Barre-Boulet signed a two-year deal worth $875,000 per season with the San Jose Sharks on July 1.
Ivan Ivan (1 point in 9 GP, T-27th on the Avalanche)
The Avalanche traded Ivan Ivan to the Boston Bruins on June 27 in exchange for Fabian Lysell.
T.J. Tynan (0 points in 1 GP, T-31st on the Avalanche)
T.J. Tynan is still an unrestricted free agent.
Jason Polin (0 points in 9 GP, T-31st on the Avalanche)
Jason Polin signed a one-year deal worth $850,000 with the Buffalo Sabres on July 1.