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Cooper Gay, University of St. Thomas (Photo credit: University of St. Thomas Athletics)

Meet the Colorado Avalanche’s New NCAA Signings

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Stefano Rubino | Last updated Apr 2, 2025 9:15 AM ET

Signing college free agents has traditionally been a common practice this time of year. Even before the Colorado Avalanche became a consistent Stanley Cup contender, they frequently used this strategy to enhance their prospect pool. Speaking of the prospect pool, it has been drier than ever recently with all the moves they have made this season to improve the team. From draft picks to top prospects, it’s the sacrifice to win a Stanley Cup. Still, these free agent signings from the NCAA are key signings that could help the team in years to come.

However, now more than ever, with the team having traded away many of their best assets, signing college free agents is necessary. While the results are not always guaranteed, discovering a talented player can significantly address a critical need for years to come. Two of Colorado’s 18 regular players originated as college free agents, and one has already become a Stanley Cup champion. The Avalanche announced they had signed some free college agents to two-year entry-level contracts. Both players’ contracts will commence next season, and they will play for either the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate team or the ECHL Utah Grizzlies.

Cooper Gay, Right-Wing

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound winger initially struggled during his first year in college, scoring just seven points in 30 games. However, Cooper Gay found his niche as a physical player in the corners and front of the net during his sophomore season, which led to an improvement to 12 goals and 21 points in 29 games. He built upon those achievements this season, finishing with 19 goals and 30 points in 35 games. Additionally, he served as one of St. Thomas’ alternate captains.

Gay also attended Benilde-St. Margaret’s School in Minnesota, and played for the North American Hockey League (NAHL)’s Minnesota Magicians and St. Cloud Norsemen and the United States Hockey League (USHL)’s Fargo Force. During his junior hockey career, he wasn’t a significant scorer, amassing just 13 points in 40 games in the NAHL and 14 points in 51 games in the USHL.

However, in recent years, Gay has shown improvement as he becomes more comfortable with his size and playing style. His solid build could give him a significant opportunity for top-nine minutes in the minor leagues. With some consistent offense, his niche as a physical presence in front of the net could even attract NHL attention in the coming years.

Isak Posch, Goaltender

Isak Posch, 23, competed for St. Cloud State University during the 2024-25 season, finishing with a record of 12 wins and 10 losses, a .923 save percentage (SV%), a 2.40 goals-against average (GAA), and two shutouts over 22 appearances. His SV% ranks second in the National College Hockey Conference (NCHC), while his GAA places him fourth. He is one of only three goaltenders in the conference to achieve multiple shutouts in the 2024-25 season.

Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 209 pounds, Posch played the last two seasons with St. Cloud State, accumulating a career record of 17 wins, 16 losses, and two overtime losses, along with a .915 SV%, a 2.60 GAA, and three shutouts across 36 NCAA games. He was recognized for his performance by earning a spot on the NCHC All-Rookie Team in the 2023-24 season.

Before joining the Huskies, Posch played for the NAHL’s Minnesota Wilderness in the 2022-23 season and the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede in the 2021-22 season. With the Wilderness, he posted an impressive record of 25 wins, 13 losses, two overtime losses, a .926 SV%, a 2.12 GAA, and four shutouts in 44 regular-season games. In the postseason, he continued his strong performance with a 6-2-1 record, a .945 SV%, and a 1.66 GAA in nine games.

Posch, a native of Umeå, Sweden, played at various levels of Sweden’s junior circuit. Most recently, in the 2020-21 season, he was with Leksands IF’s under-20 team. Additionally, he made two appearances for Karlskrona HK in the HockeyEttan, Sweden’s tier-three professional league. Over parts of the 2018-21 campaigns, Posch played 22 games in the under-20 league, achieving an impressive record of 18 wins and three losses, with a .924 SV%, a 2.01 GAA, and four shutouts.

Avalanche’s History With NCAA Signings

The Avalanche have a history of successfully signing free agents from the NCAA. Notable examples include Jason Polin, Sam Malinski, and Logan O’Connor. While they may not be record-breaking superstars, they have become proven players who have demonstrated their value to the team over the years. After spending three years at the University of Denver, reaching the NCAA Frozen Four in 2016, and winning the National Championship in 2017, O’Connor signed with the Avalanche ahead of the 2018-19 season.

In the 2022-23 season, Malinski, a junior at Cornell, was named a Second-Team All-American. After the conclusion of his collegiate season, he signed with the Avalanche organization and immediately transitioned to professional play with the Colorado Eagles. During his time with the Eagles, Malinski played in seven regular-season games, recording five points (three goals and two assists). Additionally, he contributed five assists in seven Calder Cup Playoff games.

Like Malinski, Polin joined the Eagles in the 2022-23 season after completing his senior year at Western Michigan University. In his initial experience in professional hockey, he notched one assist in seven AHL regular-season games and participated in four Calder Cup Playoff games.

Will this forward and goaltender be some of the building blocks of the Avalanche in the years to come? Likely not. However, if they can continue to improve their game and find a path to use their talents like an O’Connor or become a solid backup like Trent Miner with the Eagles, these will be solid signings that we can expect to happen again yearly. Fill up the roster with young players that the team’s scouts see something in, and hope they can grow their game to a new level.