The Colorado Avalanche announced Tuesday that they have secured forward Zachary L’Heureux on a two‑year contract, locking him in at a modest $875,000 average annual cap hit.
A Calculated Gamble for the Avalanche
L’Heureux arrives as a proven defensive specialist, a winger whose reputation for shutting down opponents is matched only by his willingness to mix it up in the corners.
His career has been punctuated by suspensions at every level — from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to the AHL and now the NHL — culminating in a 10‑game ban for striking a fan with his stick.
Last season he posted 14 goals and 14 assists in 30 games for the Milwaukee Admirals, while also contributing four goals and an assist in 21 NHL appearances with the Nashville Predators.
Coach Jared Bednar has long valued depth forwards who can kill penalties, and L’Heureux’s extensive penalty‑killing experience dovetails perfectly with that philosophy.
The move is part of a broader strategy to inject younger talent into the roster, a plan that could see both L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov opening the season in the NHL after clearing waivers.
The transaction also clears a spot for the organization’s future, as the team recently lost prospect Zakhar Bardakov, who opted to return to the KHL, and may signal the end of negotiations with unrestricted free agent Joel Kiviranta.
General manager Chris MacFarland emphasized that the acquisition adds cost certainty while giving the club a different look in its bottom six, blending physicality with disciplined play.