Colorado Avalanche Adjust Roster for Upcoming NHL Season

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced on October 7, 2024, several changes to their roster as they prepare for the new NHL season. The adjustments involve player reassignments and addressing injuries within the team.

Among the players reassigned to the Colorado Eagles, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Avalanche, are goaltender Adam Scheel; forwards T.J. Tynan, who cleared waivers, Nikolai Kovalenko, Ondrej Pavel, and Ivan Ivan. These players will join the Eagles’ training camp for further development.

The Avalanche also clarified that some players are not part of the active roster due to various circumstances. Forward Gabriel Landeskog and winger Artturi Lehkonen are currently on the injured list, while defenseman Tucker Poolman is similarly sidelined. Additionally, right winger Valeri Nichushkin is currently serving a suspension.

The active roster for the Avalanche features notable players such as forward Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and defenseman Cale Makar. Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen are listed as the team’s goaltenders.

The Avalanche have also made strategic moves regarding their roster just prior to opening night. Two forwards were recalled from the AHL, and it is anticipated that at least one will make their NHL debut in an upcoming game against the Golden Knights. This adjustment comes as the Avalanche face cap constraints and aim to optimize their Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) capacity.

Nikolai Kovalenko, who had prior NHL experience during last season’s playoffs, is among those hopeful to join the team once again. Kovalenko has shown promise with his performance in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, contributing significantly with 89 points in 98 games.

Ivan Ivan, another potential call-up, seeks his first NHL game appearance. The 22-year-old forward previously went undrafted but secured a contract with the Avalanche after a successful stint with the Cape Breton Eagles in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). His recent performance in the AHL further bolstered his position as a considerable asset for the team’s depth chart.

The absence of several key forwards due to injury has opened up opportunities for new talent to join the active roster as the Avalanche adjust their strategy for the upcoming matches.