DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 05: Nick Blankenburg #37, Zakhar Bardakov #93, Parker Kelly #17 and Logan O'Connor #25 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate after a goal against the St Louis Blues during the first period at Ball Arena on April 05, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

After an early July whirlwind of activity with transactions and trades around the league things have now settled down as NHL rosters are mostly set heading into training camps next week. Though Colorado said goodbye to most of their former players via trade such as Val Nichushkin, Jack Drury and Ross Colton, there’s always a few that slip away during free agency. Here is where several former Colorado Avalanche players landed once unrestricted free agency opened on the 2026-27 league year.

Defenseman Nick Blankenburg sat on the market until September but ultimately couldn’t find a firm contract offer, thus he’s expected to land a try-out with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Maple Leafs Expected To Invite Nick Blankenburg To Training Camphttps://t.co/MbM27mhszp
— Pro Hockey Rumors (@prohockeyrumors) September 12, 2026

Depth forward Joel Kiviranta didn’t return for a third season with the Avalanche. Instead, he returned to his other former team in the Dallas Stars on a one-year contract worth $1 million.

Back where he belongs ⭐️

WELCOME HOME, KIVI! pic.twitter.com/yQs43Xa1Aw
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) July 2, 2026

Another depth forward, Zakhar Bardakov also returned to his former team SKA in the KHL on a one-year deal.

Zakhar Bardakov is returning! 👋

The 25-year-old forward, who spent last season with the Colorado Avalanche, has penned a deal with SKA for the 2026/2027 campaign 📝

Welcome back, Zakhar!#hcSKA pic.twitter.com/DLeVdbIiCS
— SKA Ice Hockey Club (@hcSKA_News) July 3, 2026

Victor Olofsson was sent to the Calgary Flames in the Nazem Kadri trade but as a free agent the 28-year-old Swede made his way back to the Vegas Golden Knights on a one-year deal.

#VegasBorn sign Victor Olofsson: 1 x $1,638,330 @PuckPedia https://t.co/VknkvUuq4W
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) July 1, 2026

With so many Eagles free agents hitting the market, there was bound to be some turnover on the AHL club. Chris MacFarland brought another familiar face with him to the Nashville Predators organization with the signing of minor league depth defenseman Jack Ahcan who received 11 regular season and three playoff games with the Avalanche.

Howdy boys 🤠

We've signed defenseman Jack Ahcan to a two-year, two-way contract and defenseman Hunter Skinner to a one-year, two-way contract.

Full details » https://t.co/tAcs5anvCI pic.twitter.com/A5E1Eq5iQy
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 1, 2026

In other minor league news, former players who appeared in an Avalanche sweater and also moved on include Jason Polin who was signed for one-year by Pittsburgh, Jacob MacDonald received a one-year deal from Washington and Matt Stienburg was signed to a two-way contract by Vancouver.

Jason Polin

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