O'Connor (hip) underwent surgery and is expected to miss 5-6 months, the team announced Friday.
A 5-6 month recovery means a return in November at the earliest for O'Connor, who battled through 80 regular-season games in 2024-25, mostly in a bottom-six role. He scored 10 goals and added 11 assists in the regular season, but the 28-year-old brought it to a different level in the postseason -- he had six points in seven games in the team's first-round series loss to the Stars. If all goes well with his recovery, the Avalanche should be able to get him back for a big chunk of 2025-26.
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Avalanche's Jere Innala: Headed back to Sweden
Rotowire
Innala signed a contract with Frolunda HC of the SHL on Thursday, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.
Innala played 17 regular-season games with the Avalanche this season and failed to garner a point. The 27-year-old played only one season in North America after crossing the pond after the 2023-24 campaign, signing a one-year contract with Colorado. Innala managed 17 goals and 11 assists across 43 AHL contests with the Eagles.
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Avalanche's Brock Nelson: Staying in Mile High City
Rotowire
Nelson inked a three-year, $22.5 million contract with Colorado on Wednesday.
Nelson was expected to hit free agency July 1 but instead has decided to tie himself to the Avalanche for the next three years. With Nelson's signature, the Avs have locked up their No. 2 center behind Nathan MacKinnon. In his short stint with the Avs, Nelson racked up six goals and seven assists in 19 regular-season contests, reaching the 50-point threshold for the fourth straight year.
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Avalanche's Ilya Nabokov: Agrees to entry-level contract
Rotowire
Nabokov signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche on Friday.
Nabokov had a 2.22 GAA and a .923 save percentage across 49 regular-season KHL outings with Magnitogorsk in 2024-25. The Avalanche selected him with the No. 38 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Nabokov is worth keeping an eye on, but Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports the goalie will be loaned back to Magnitogorsk for 2025-26 and will make his North American debut when the KHL season ends. Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood are slated to begin next season as the goaltenders on Colorado's roster.
Jedlicka, who has been dealing with an undisclosed injury, might become an unrestricted free agent if he doesn't sign with Colorado before June 1, Brennan Vogt of Hockey Mountain High reports Thursday.
Jedlicka is playing this season with AHL Colorado on a one-year, minor-league deal. Prior to getting hurt, the 22-year-old center posted three goals and two assists in 18 games. Selected by the Avs in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft, Jedlicka may have to spend some more time in the minors developing his game after his injury-plagued campaign.
Colton missed the last six games with a groin pull, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports Tuesday.
Colton was previously ruled out for the first round, so it's not immediately clear if he would have been ready to play in the second round either. During the regular season, the 28-year-old winger notched 16 goals and 13 helpers, missing the 30-point threshold for the first time since 2020-21 when he logged just 30 games as a rookie.
Mandolese will be an option for the Eagles in the Calder Cup Playoffs, but Trent Miner could remain the team's No. 1 netminder. The 24-year-old Mandolese had a record of 11-6-0 with a 2.87 GAA and a .903 save percentage in 19 AHL appearances during the regular season.
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