Avalanche find Valeri Nichushkin replacement in Kraken veteran

The Colorado Avalanche have made their first move of NHL Free Agency. After trading away Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team was looking for a replacement.

Now, the Avalanche may have that replacement, as they have signed Jaden Schwartz, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.

It is a three-year deal with an AAV of $3.25 million for Schwartz.

Schwartz was the 14th overall selection of the 2010 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues. After two years at Colorado College, he signed his entry-level contract with the Blues and played seven games with the team in 2011-12. After a short AHL stint in 2012-13, Schwartz became a regular fixture in the Blues lineup.

Schwartz became a free agent for the first time in his career in the summer of 2021. He would decide to sign a five year seal with the expansion Seattle Kraken. His best season with the Kraken would come in 2024-25. That year, he played in 81 games, lighting the lamp 26 times while adding 23 helpers. Still, he did not have the same success this past season. He was held to just 50 games and found the back of the net only 11 times with 15 assists.

He will also be taking a pretty substantial pay cut in this deal. He was being paid $5.35 million in AAV in his last five years with the Blues. That would move to an AAV of $5.5 million in his five years with the Kraken. Now, he has an AAV of just $3.25 million.

As the free agency frenzy continues, ClutchPoints is your home for all the breaking NHL Free Agency moves.