0-1The Avalanche inked Brent Burns, a 40-year-old veteran and 2017 Norris Trophy winner, to a one-year contract worth $1 million against the salary cap, with up to $3 million in performance bonuses .
386-0Burns brings tremendous experience: 1,497 regular-season NHL games, 910 career points, and the league’s longest active ironman streak (925 consecutive games) .
595-0ESPN analysts graded the signing a B, noting Burns’ puck-moving skills, durability, and fit on Colorado’s third defensive pairing .
764-0Local analysts highlighted his physical presence, penalty-killing value, veteran leadership, and ‘grizzly’ style—despite uncertainty about where he’ll fit in the lineup .
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🧬 Prospect Spotlight: Francesco Dell’Elce Drafted
970-0The Avalanche selected Francesco Dell’Elce from UMass in the third round of the 2025 Draft .
1147-0The 6’2″ defenseman posted 24 points in 40 games as a freshman. He looks up to fellow UMass alum and two-time Norris winner Cale Makar, aiming to grow into a well-rounded player .
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💼 Other Roster Moves
1352-0On July 1, Colorado extended forward Parker Kelly on a four-year deal (approx. $1.7 M/year) and brought back depth players T.J. Tynan and Jack Ahcan on one-year deals .
1589-0The team also signed defenseman Ronnie Attard to a one-year deal on July 1 .
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🔭 Offseason Outlook
The Avalanche are bolstering their blue line depth significantly. With Makar and Toews solidifying the top pairing, Burns, Attard, and Ahcan bring seasoned depth, while Dell’Elce represents future potential. The team appears focused on reinforcing its defense ahead of the 2025–26 season.
