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Avalanche sign Nielsen to two-year contract

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Ben Steiner | Last updated Oct 27, 2025 4:46 PM ET

The Colorado Avalanche have signed center Tristen Nielsen to a two-year contract through the end of the 2026-27 NHL season, the club announced on Monday.

The 25-year-old initially signed a deal with the club’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, in August, but impressed in training camp and has started the AHL season with three goals and seven points in the first seven games.

It’s an expected step for Nielsen, after helping the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks to the Calder Cup title in 2024-25. He spent four seasons in Abbotsford, putting up 55 goals and 122 points in 238 regular-season games.

In addition to his regular-season tallies, he posted 17 points in 36 Calder Cup playoff games, playing a vital role on the Canucks team that went on to capture its first AHL title.

We have signed forward Tristen Nielsen to a two-year contract through the 2026-27 season. pic.twitter.com/YwBvdkSjcI
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 27, 2025

The Fort St. John, British Columbia native started his professional career with an NHL entry-level contract with the Canucks organization, but has yet to make his NHL debut and will look to do so with the Avalanche.

Playing in Colorado marked the first time since 2019 that Nielsen had played outside of the Vancouver area, having spent three seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants, before making the short trip to Abbotsford for the start of his professional career.

In 241 WHL contests between the Giants and Calgary Hitmen, he put up 175 points and crossed paths with current Avalanche goaltender Trent Miner with the Giants from 2018 to 2021.

At five-foot-10, 192 pounds, Nielsen isn’t the most physically imposing, but he will look to make his impact at the NHL level when the opportunity comes around.

The Eagles currently sit atop the AHL’s Pacific Division with five wins and two losses in their first seven games, while the Avalanche sit second in the NHL’s Central Division after the first 10 games, ahead of a clash with the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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