5 Colorado Avalanche players who may not return next season ft. Jonathan Drouin (ct)

5 Colorado Avalanche players who may not return next season ft. Jonathan Drouin

The Colorado Avalanche’s season ended on Friday night following a 2-1 thrilling double overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. With their elimination, the Avs now face their offseason, looking at potential roster decisions to make.

With that in mind, it’s worth looking into five players who may not return next fall in Colorado.

5 Colorado Avalanche players who may not be back next fall

#1: Jonathan Drouin

Jonathan Drouin may not return next season despite having a relatively productive 2023-2024 season.

Drouin signed a one-year deal on July 1, 2023, worth $825,000. He played beyond his cap hit, registering 19 goals and 56 points in 79 games. At times, Drouin found himself playing with Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon.

However, Drouin may have priced himself out of Colorado if he felt he could translate this season’s success into a larger contract.

The Colorado Avalanche may want to keep Drouin if he agrees to a reasonable deal, given the positive impact he had as a middle-six forward.

Colorado may move on from Drouin, considering Casey Mittelstadt, a restricted free agent, will also need a new contract. So, the Avs may prefer to use Drouin’s cap hit to supplement Middlestadt’s new deal.

#2: Andrew Cogliano

The 36-year-old Cogliano played a key depth role for the Colorado Avalanche this season. He was part of the 2022 championship roster, adding solid defensive play in the bottom six.

However, he does not add much in terms of offense. This season, he registered 19 points in 75 games. Also, he chipped in five assists in 11 playoff contests.

The Avs may want to move on from Cogliano and promote a younger prospect from within. While his $1 million cap hit is not prohibitive, the Avs may want someone closer to the league minimum for this sort of depth forward position.

#3: Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson provided the Avs with an important veteran, depth defense option. He arrived in Colorado on a one-year, league-minimum deal. However, Johnson is 37 and may be nearing the end of his playing days.

He added 16 points in 80 games while failing to register a point in 11 playoff games. This production is certainly worth his league-minimum contract.

However, Colorado may explore other options, such as deploying Caleb Jones full-time to their bottom pairing.

#4: Sean Walker

Sean Walker played 81 games during the past regular season, scoring 10 goals and 29 points. He’s been a solid, reliable defensive option for coach Jared Bednar.

However, Walker made $3.35 million this season. At 29, Walker may seek one more multi-year deal. If that’s the case, he may be too rich for the Colorado Avalanche’s blood, especially for a bottom-four defenseman.

#5: Brandon Duhaime

Duhaime came over from the Minnesota Wild this season. He provided a solid bottom-six option, deployed in numerous situations.

However, Duhaime scored a single goal in 11 games this postseason. His $1.1 million cap hit this season does not compensate for such production. As such, the 26-year-old may find himself looking to catch on with another team next fall.