Colorado Avalanche news and notes following the Fourth of July holiday
- Not unexpected, but forward Darren Helm announced his retirement after 16 years in the NHL. Helm, 36, was limited to just 11 games in 2022–23 due to injuries but spent his final two seasons in the league with the Avs after his first 14 in Detroit. The Manitoba native won Stanley Cups with both clubs and notably punched Colorado’s ticket to the Western Conference Final in 2022 after scoring with 5.6 seconds left in regulation in the deciding game.
- As noted, Helm did most of his heavy lifting with the Red Wings but finished with 119 goals and 147 assists in 823 career NHL games.
- Ross Colton was one of the 22 players around the league who filed for salary arbitration. The restricted free agent is set to have his case heard at the end of the month, but in most cases, the team and player settle on a contract before it ever goes to trial.
- Devon Toews is Colorado’s most recent arbitration case, with the two sides agreeing to a new contract three days before meeting in court.
- For what it is worth, Colton is projected to fetch a four-year deal at $3.351 million AAV, per Evolving Hockey.
- Despite being a sixth-round pick in 2023, defenseman Jeremy Hanzel stood out at the team’s development camp this week. The Avs drafted the 20-year-old with the understanding that he could potentially turn pro in the fall. The team is reportedly monitoring his development to determine if he will join the Colorado Eagles (AHL) or return to Seattle (WHL) for one more season.
- Ultimately, it could come down to a numbers game in the AHL, but Hanzel certainly left his mark on the coaching staff fresh off being drafted.
- Hanzel would appear to be ahead of the development curve not only because of his age but because of the measures he took this past season to greatly improve his two-way game. Like many young prospects, Hanzel shined more on the offensive side of the puck earlier in his career but polished his defensive skill set over the last two years, which caught the attention of the Avalanche.
“I’ve really stepped up in the defensive end of my game (especially having come) into the WHL as more of an offensive player with not too much of a defensive presence. But over the past couple years, I’ve really been working on that and getting bigger, getting more confident, just really working on being a solid presence in the d-zone – really shutting down whoever I need to. That’s really brought me to the next step.” – Jeremy Hanzel via Meghan Angley/DNVR.
- Speaking of the NHL draft, Corey Pronman put together his way-too-early 2024 mock draft. The major takeaway is that he has the Avalanche picking last in the first round, implying they will win their second Cup in three years—this time, over the Maple Leafs.
- Pronman has the Avs taken Yegor Surin, an undersized centerman who turns 17 years of age in August. The Russian forward scored 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 39 games for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL) last season. If nothing else, it is a name to keep tabs on this season.
- I will have a much bigger piece on Erik Johnson later this week or over the weekend. However, “The Condor” was on 92.5 FM — Denver’s Altitude Sports Radio on Wednesday to say goodbye to the franchise after signing a one-year deal with the Buffalo. It is a must-listen 30-minute interview with plenty of good stories, from when he was initially acquired by Colorado to the late-night partying after the Cup win in 2022.
- Vladimir Tarasenko has acquired new representation, meaning his previously rumored deal with Carolina is no longer. Might Colorado take a look if he is still hanging out there as the season gets closer? They took the same approach with Evan Rodrigues last year.
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