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Colorado Avalanche News
Pavel Francouz had an off-season adductor surgery and there is concern he could miss "some time".

Francouz was 8-7-1 with a .915 SV%, and 2.61 GAA in 2022-23 with Colorado but is likely to not be ready for the regular season as he had off-season adductor surgery with serious concern that he could miss "some time". The 33-year-old netminder has had his career decimated by consistent injuries since coming to the NHL in 2018-19 and has never appeared in more than 34 games (2019-20). The Avalanche have made it known that they are in the hunt for a replacement back-up goaltender while Francouz nurses his latest ailment.

Pavel Francouz
Colorado has signed Matthew Stienburg to a two-year, entry-level contract.

Stienburg was drafted by Colorado in the 3rd round of the 2019 draft (63rd overall) and has signed the center to a two-year, entry-level contract. The 22-year-old made his professional debut in 2022-23 with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) as he had an assist and five PIMs across a brief four-game appearance. Prior to the Eagles, he closed out his NCAA career with Cornell (NCAA) where he had two goals, five assists, 18 PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus through 18 games.

Matthew Stienburg
Colorado has avoided arbitration and signed Ross Colton to a four-year, $16 million contract ($4,000,000 AAV).

Colton had 16 goals, 16 assist, 153 SOG, 50 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 81 games with Tampa Bay in 2022-23 and has signed a four-year, $16 million contract ($4,000,000 AAV) with Colorado. The 26-year-old centre was acquired for a 2023 second-round pick back in June and brings 47 goals and 83 points across 190 games played to the Avalanche.

Ross Colton
Philadelphia has re-signed Ronnie Attard to a two-year, $1.7 million contract extension ($850,000 AAV).

Attard had 12 goals, 20 assists, 41 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus with Lehigh Valley (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $1.7 million contract extension ($850,000 AAV) with Philadelphia. The 24-year-old defenseman appeared in two games for the Flyers last season but failed to pick up a point in his brief showing.

Ronnie Attard
The Avalanche signed Jack Ahcan to a two-year, two-way deal.

Ahcan had five goals, 31 assists, 24 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 68 games with Providence (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, two-way deal worth $1,550,000 ($775,000 AAV) with Colorado. The 26-year-old undrafted defenseman did not play in the NHL last season but has a goal, 10 SOG, and a -6 plus/minus through nine career NHL games.

Jack Ahcan
The Sharks signed Mackenzie Blackwood to a two-year deal worth $4.7 million ($2.35M AAV).

It looked as if Blackwood was going to hit the open market, but the Sharks were able get him under contract after acquiring his rights from the Devils. Blackwood has battled injuries over the last few seasons, most recently appearing in just 22 games in 2023, going 10-6-2 with a 3.20 GAA and .893 SV%.

Mackenzie Blackwood
The Avalanche have acquired Ross Colton from the Lightning for a 2023 second-round pick (No.37 overall).

Colton has been a solid middle-6 forward for the Lightning over the last two seasons, scoring 38 goals with 33 assists (71 points) while compiling 341 hits in 160 games. The Avalanche were in desperate need of bottom-6 help, with J.T. Compher, Lars Eller, Evan Rodrigues, Darren Helm, Matt Nieto and Andrew Cogliano all still unsigned and set to become UFAs on Saturday.

Ross Colton
The Sharks have acquired Mackenzie Blackwood from the Devils for a sixth-round draft pick.

Blackwood's career got off to a strong start, going 32-24-8 with a 2.72 GAA and .916 SV% in his first two seasons (70 games). However, he's struggled more in the last three years, going 33-33-10 with a 3.19 GAA and .897 SV%. He fell behind Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid on the depth chart, so he heads to San Jose, where he'll likely share time with Kaapo Kahkonen.

Mackenzie Blackwood
Wyatt Aamodt has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension for the 2023-24 season.

Aamodt had three goals, 15 assists, 39 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 52 games played with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Tuesday. The 25-year-old was signed as a free agent out of college in 2022 and will hope to grow off a strong first full AHL season.

Wyatt Aamodt
Gabriel Landeskog will miss the entire 2023-24 season as he undergoes surgery for a cartilage transplant in his right knee.

Landeskog missed the entire 2022-23 regular season as he recovered from knee surgery and will now go back under the knife for a cartilage transplant in his right knee which will cause him to miss the 2023-24 season as well. It is a tough loss for the Avalanche as their captain has not played since hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2022. The 30-year-old has 571 points (248G/323A) and a +77 plus/minus across 738 career NHL games played.

Gabriel Landeskog
Jack Drury (upper-body) is expected to return to the Hurricanes' lineup for Game 1 vs. New Jersey.

Drury has been out since Game 4 of round one due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return to Carolina's lineup for Game 1 of round two on Wednesday. Drury has yet to pick up a point in his four playoff games played this year, but has six SOG, 10 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus.

Jack Drury
Jack Drury (upper-body) will not travel with the team for Game 6 and is considered out.

Drury left Game 4 last weekend after just two shifts and 1:20 TOI due to an upper-body injury and did not play in the Hurricanes' previous game and will also miss Game 6 as he did not travel with Carolina. The 23-year-old is considered day-to-day for the time being and has yet to pick up a point in four playoff games so far, with 6 SOG, 10 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus.

Jack Drury
Cale Makar has been suspended one game for his hit on Jared McCann in game 4.

Makar was assessed a two-minute minor early in Game 4 between the Avalanche and Kraken for an interference minor on Seattle's Jared McCann and has been suspended for Game 5 due to the infraction. It is the first time the 24-year-old has faced a suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety and will be a huge hit to the Avalanche as their start defensemen has a goal and three points with a +3 plus/minus through four games in their opening series.

Cale Makar
Jack Drury is not skating at morning skate Tuesday morning and is expected out for Game 5 (upper-body).

Drury left Game 4 on Sunday after just two shifts and 1:20 TOI due to an upper-body injury and will not play Game 5 Tuesday after not practicing in the morning. The 23-year-old is considered day-to-day for the time being and has yet to pick up a point in four playoff games so far, with 6 SOG, 10 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus.

Jack Drury
Jack Drury is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and is a game-time decision for Game 5.

Drury left Game 4 on Sunday after just two shifts and 1:20 TOI due to an upper-body injury and will be a game-time decision for Game 5 Tuesday. The 23-year-old is considered day-to-day for the time being and has yet to pick up a point in four playoff games so far, with 6 SOG, 10 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus.

Jack Drury
Joel Kiviranta is expected to draw back into the Stars' lineup for Game 2.

Kiviranta had eight goals, one assist, 85 SOG, 40 PIms and a -9 plus/minus through 70 games during the regular season and will draw back into the Stars' lineup for Game 2 after being a healthy scratch in Dallas' first playoff game. The 27-year-old is expected to play on the fourth line and will be replacing Joe Pavelski in the Stars' lineup.

Joel Kiviranta