In the seventh of a 32 part series leading up to the start of the 2025-26 National Hockey League regular season, we will look at the key off-season transactions made by all NHL organizations with an overall grade. Here are the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avalanche added two key players to their group in the offseason. They added one player on offense and one player on defense. Colorado added right winger Viktor Olofsson of Ornskoldsvik, Sweden and defenseman Brent Burns of Barrie, Ontario. Like the Carolina Hurricanes, the Avalanche are considered contenders to win the Stanley Cup this season, and there was no need to make drastic changes.
Victor Olofsson
The Avalanche signed Olofsson to a one-year deal worth $1.575 million. What we saw from Olofsson this past season was a significant improvement to Olofsson’s defensive game. During six seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, he was a -63 in 314 games. However, last season Olofsson was an impressive +17 in 56 games with the Vegas Golden Knights. He also had career highs in blocked shots (19), and hits (26).
Olofsson had 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points. He had 16 penalty minutes, eight power-play points, four game-winning goals, 109 shots on goal, one faceoff win, eight takeaways, and 25 giveaways. Olofsson is slated to be on the Golden Knights third line, alongside Americans Jack Drury of New York, New York and Ross Colton of Robbinsville, New Jersey.
Brent Burns
Like Olofsson, Burns had 29 points this past season as he had 29 points in 82 games. However that is where the similarities end between Olofsson and Burns. The bearded wonder who collects snakes has 910 points in 1497 games and could be considered as a future Hockey Hall of Famer for his 11 great seasons with the San Jose Sharks, where he was an All-Star on five occasions and won the Norris Trophy in 2016-17. That season Burns was phenomenal offensively as he had a NHL high 320 shots on goal.
In addition to playing for the Sharks, Burns played seven seasons with the Minnesota Wild where he was an All-Star in 2010-11, and the last three seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. In 2024-25, Burns had six goals, and 23 assists, was a +7 with 28 penalty minutes, three power-play points, 174 shots on goal, 98 blocked shots, 11 hits, 36 takeaways and 104 giveaways.
Burns signed a one-year deal worth $1 million. He is projected to play with defenseman Sam Malinski of Lakeville, Minnesota.
Projected Grade
I think a grade of B for the Avalanche is fair here. Burns is in the twilight of his career at age 40, and one reason why he is still in the NHL is because he does not have a Stanley Cup on his resume. I like the addition of Olofsson, and the progression he made as a legitimate two-way player with Vegas last season. Colorado also did not have to spend much ($2.575 million) and kept the core group intact.
