The NHL offseason is shaping up with several former Colorado Avalanche members set to become unrestricted free agents as training camps near, highlighting the fluid nature of player movement in the league.
Nick Blankenburg, who arrived in a March 2023 trade‑deadline deal, has been used primarily as a depth defenseman and struggled to make an impact against powerhouse opponents such as Minnesota and Vegas, though his most memorable moment came when he scored in Game 1 of the second round against the Wild.
A turbulent offseason for Colorado’s former core
Jonathan Drouin, a former top‑six forward, spent the 2025‑26 season alternating between the New York Islanders and the St. Louis Blues before his contract was bought out by the Blues, ending his tenure with Colorado after two seasons alongside Gabe Landeskog.
Brandon Saad, after a season with the Vegas Golden Knights where he appeared in 49 regular‑season games and contributed three goals and nine points, logged five playoff appearances but was absent from the Stanley Cup Final.
Tyson Jost, whose career has taken him through four teams since his 2022 trade to the Minnesota Wild, includes a stint with the Nashville Predators in the upcoming 2025‑26 season, and he is remembered for a standout 2018‑19 campaign that yielded a career‑high 26 points at age 20.
The broader free‑agent market remains active, with other notable unrestricted players such as Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrik Laine, Michael Bunting and Petr Mrazek still seeking new homes, while the recent signing of Eeli Tolvanen by the New York Rangers illustrates the constant churn as clubs adjust their rosters ahead of the next season.