Tag: avalanche
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Top Avalanche prospect Ilya Nabokov has eyes on NHL in first North American season
Is it safe to say the Avalanche haven’t been as excited about a goaltending prospect in years as they are about 23-year-old Ilya Nabokov? “We’re definitely excited,” Avalanche director of player development Brian Willsie said Friday after the first workout of rookie camp. Nabokov, who was drafted 38th overall by the Avalanche in 2024, has…
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The Lehkonen dilemma, Brindley’s plan and center depth | Avalanche mailbag
Welcome to Evan’s mailbag, where each week Avalanche reporter Evan Rawal answers all your Avalanche- and hockey-related questions. Mailbag questions can be sent to evan.rawal@gazette.com. Do you think they’ll be able to afford Artturi Lehkonen? A lot of Lehkonen questions, which makes sense. With the Cale Makar extension done, Lehkonen is the next big name…
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Avalanche players and storylines to watch when training camp opens Sept. 17 | NHL Insider
Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong got it wrong. For hockey fans, it’s “Wake me up when September starts.” Training camp for the Avalanche begins in two weeks, and with the arrival of September, hockey fans are waking up. Although the richest deal in NHL history helped the final few days of August pass by, the…
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Stability key for Cale Makar’s record-breaking contract with Avalanche: ‘I really wanted that eight years’
Joe Sakic said the Avalanche wanted Cale Makar to finish his career in Denver. The feeling was mutual. “I think for our side, and myself personally, I really wanted that eight years,” Makar said Monday. Sakic, the Avalanche general manager, and Makar, a 27-year-old defenseman, on Monday detailed Makar’s eight-year, $163.2 million extension — the…
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Cale Makar’s megadeal will force Avalanche to adapt to stay on top | Evan’s take
Cale Makar got paid. And with that, the Avalanche will soon have to evolve. By NHL standards, $20.4 million per year is a staggering number. The highest in league history, to be exact. Compared to other leagues, it’s nothing. Former Nuggets forward Peyton Watson just signed a fat new contract in Cleveland that will pay…
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Avalanche sign Cale Makar to richest contract in NHL history
No team is better at keeping a secret than the Avalanche, but they couldn’t keep this one forever. A little over 24 hours after word got out that the Avalanche and Cale Makar had agreed on a contract extension, the organization made it official the defenseman had signed an eight-year extension worth $163.2 million, his…
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Greatest concerns heading into the season for the Avalanche | NHL Insider
You’ve seen the glass-half-full view. Now it’s time to look at the empty portion. Last week we analyzed the reasons to be optimistic about the Avalanche heading into the 2026-27 season. In the interest of fairness, there are also valid concerns three weeks away from the start of training camp. Here are a few: Age…
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Avalanche and Cale Makar reportedly closing in on major contract extension
The Avalanche and Cale Makar are closing in on a contract extension that is expected to be a “biggie,” according to a report from Sportsnet. Makar has one year left on a deal that sees him carry a $9 million cap hit. A source told The Denver Gazette the two sides came to an agreement…
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Avalanche set to appear on national broadcasts 16 times next season
One more year of the Avalanche being a popular draw for the NHL’s national television partners. With the NHL season inching ever so closely, TNT and ESPN announced their broadcast schedules for the 2026-27 campaign Wednesday. The Avalanche are set to appear 16 times on the national networks, which puts them near the top of…
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Avalanche’s Joe Sakic ‘not worried’ about contract negotiations with Cale Makar, Jared Bednar
Joe Sakic wasn’t able to play in last year’s Avalanche Alumni Game at Magness Arena. Most days, a return to the ice for one of the greatest hockey players of all time would be the big story, but there are other important issues at hand. Namely, the contract status of his star defenseman. It’s Aug.…