Brindley was expected to compete for one of Columbus' final roster spots heading into the regular season but has faced a setback after breaking his finger and will be placed on injured reserve with a return time of four to six weeks. The 19-year-old right-winger was Columbus' 2023 2nd round pick (34th overall) who is coming off 25 goals, and 53 points in 40 games at the University of Michigan (NCAA) in 2023-24.

Lehkonen is expected to miss the start of the regular season due to offseason shoulder surgery. According to head coach Jared Bednar, they are trying to give him as long as they can without contact, but once he's cleared it won't be long before he returns to the lineup. With Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin both expected to miss the start of the season, newcomers Calum Ritchie and Nikolai Kovalenko could get a look in the Avalanche top-6 early on.

Lehkonen underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason and will not be a full participant in Avalanche training camp. At this point, there's no firm timeline for his return to the Avalanche lineup. Lehkonen should be a back of your roster IR stash in Fantasy Drafts this fall.

Necas was an RFA whose name was at the top of the trade rumours all offseason, but he signs a two-year deal to stay in Carolina through the 2026 season. The 25-year-old winger saw his production take a step back last season, as he went from 71 points (28G / 43A) in 2023 to 53 points (24G / 29A) in 2024. With Jake Guentzel and Teuvo Teravainen not returning to Carolina this summer, it opens up plenty of ice-time and opportunity for Necas to take advantage of in 2025.

Drury decided to go to arbitration with Carolina and led to him signing a two-year, $3.45 million contract extension. ($1,725,000 AAV) to remain with the Hurricanes. The 24-year-old centre appeared in 74 games for Carolina in his third NHL season, and had career highs with eight goals, 27 points, 33 PIM and 106 SOG.

Aarnodt will return to Colorado for a third season after he signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Tuesday. The 26-year-old undrafted defenseman joined Colorado from Minnesota State University (Mankato) in 2021-22 and had six goals and 14 points in 60 games played in 2023-24 with the Eagles (AHL).

Bradley was Colorado's 2020 7th-round pick (203rd overall) and signed a two-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday. The 22-year-old just completed his third season at the University of Connecticut (NCAA) and had 11 goals and 22 points in 31 games.

After scoring a career-best 28 goals in 2023, Olofsson fell out of favour in Buffalo in 2024, playing just 51 games. Olofsson's two-way game needs refining, but he is a solid middle-6 scoring winger who can also help out on the power play. After Vegas lost Marchessault, Stephenson, Amadio, Mantha, and Carrier, they needed some cheap upside on the wing.

Colorado added to its depth on Monday by signing Parker Kelly to two-year deal worth $1.65 million ($825K AAV). The 25-year-old had a career year in 2023-24, with eight goals, 10 assists, 30 PIMs and 86 SOG in 80 games played.

Joel Kiviranta will return to the Avalanche after a successful first season with Colorado after signing a one-year contract extension on Monday. The 28-year-old left-winger appeared in 56 games with Colorado in 2023-24, scoring three goals, nine points, 12 PIMs and 48 SOG.

Montreal has added to their depth by signing winger Alex Barre-Boulet to a one-year, $775,000 contract on Monday. The 27-year-old centre put up career highs in games payed (36), goals (6) and points (9) in 2023-24 with Tampa Bay.

MacDonald will return to Colorado where he spent three seasons between 2020 and 2023 after signing a two-year, two-way contract on Monday with the Avalanche. The 31-year-old hybrid defenseman broke his career high in goals (7) in 2023-24, and finished with nine points and 23 PIMs in 34 games played.

Nashville has locked up its backup goaltender for the 2024-25 season after signing Scott Wedgewood to a two-year deal worth $3.0 million ($1.5M AAV). The 31-year-old will join his fourth team in seven seasons after putting up an impressive 16-7-5 record in 2023-24 with a .285 GAA and .899 SV% backing up Jake Oettinger.

Lehkonen will undergo shoulder surgery in the near future, and his availability for 2024-25 training camp is "going to be close," according to GM Chris MacFarland.

Miner was Colorado's 2019 seventh-round pick (202nd overall) and signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Tuesday. The 23-year-old spent the 2023-24 season with 29 games played split between the Colorado Eagles (AHL) and Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) and has had an +.910 SV in his first three years with Utah.

Toews missed Game 4 due to an illness but travelled with the Avalanche to Dallas and will play in Game 5 on Wednesday after practicing in full. The 30-year-old's absence in Game 4 was a massive loss as he has been a lock in Colorado's top pair and has a goal, six points and a +4 plus/minus in eight games while averaging 23:45 TOI/GP.

Toews missed Game 4 due to an illness but travelled with the Avalanche to Dallas and is a game-time decision for Game 5 on Wednesday. The 30-year-old's absence in Game 4 was a massive loss as he has been a lock in Colorado's top pair and has a goal, six points and a +4 plus/minus in eight games while averaging 23:45 TOI/GP.

Toews missed Game 4 due to an illness and did not participate in Tuesday's practice. However, he's still expected to travel to Dallas for Game 5. Expect him to be a game-time decision on Wednesday.