The Colorado Avalanche extended qualifying offers to all of their restricted free agents except Denis Malgin and Ryan Merkley by the deadline to retain negotiating rights to those RFAs.
The list of players who have been extended qualifying offers is made up of Bo Byram, Ben Meyers, Justus Annunen, Sampo Ranta, Alex Newhook (who was traded to Montreal) and new trade acquisition Ross Colton.
Malgin and Merkley, both acquired in midseason trades during 2022-23, will become unrestricted free agents Saturday as a result of not receiving qualifying offers. Merkley didn’t appear in an Avalanche game, but Malgin scored 13 goals in 65 games and even slotted into Colorado’s top-six forward group when the team was dealing with injuries.
The deadline for eligible RFAs to file for salary arbitration is July 5. Malgin was arbitration-eligible, so the Avalanche allowing him to go to the open market is a sign that the process might have led to an average annual value Colorado wouldn’t have felt comfortable paying Malgin.
Colton is eligible for arbitration, but he told The Post on Wednesday that he hopes to have a contract negotiated with the Avalanche by the end of this weekend.
Ranta has signed a two-year contract in the Swedish Hockey League with MoDo, where he can develop under the watch of Avalanche scout Henrik Gradin. The Avs are holding onto Ranta’s rights while he’s overseas.
Byram is not eligible for arbitration, but the defenseman’s contract negotiations will be the most important and most challenging. The 2019 No. 4 draft pick has shown tremendous talent and upside when healthy, but his availability early in his career has been hindered by multiple concussions and a lower-body injury last season. The Avs will need to invest in him at some point to keep him as part of their core, but whether that’s now with a long-term deal or another summer after a bridge deal depends on these negotiations.
Free agency storylines to watch: With unrestricted free agency set to open Saturday, Colorado has not re-signed any of its pending UFAs this offseason.
The majority of them are likely to end up on different teams. The Avs are attempting to reset their roster depth while working around the confines of a stagnant salary cap, making it harder to keep players who have helped them contend for championships.
Erik Johnson and J.T. Compher are almost certain to sign elsewhere, sources told The Post. The sense is that Evan Rodrigues will also be difficult to retain against a competitive open market. In a weak free agency class, an over-eager spender tends to emerge for skilled forwards like Rodrigues.
Colorado’s two free agents who seem most likely to re-sign within the parameters of what the Avs need — inexpensive, one-year contracts — are veterans Andrew Cogliano and Jack Johnson. Colorado trusts both of them.
The big lingering question marks will be forwards Lars Eller and Matt Nieto, another pair of midseason trade pickups.
The Avalanche will need to fill in the roster with a top-six forward, ideally signed to a one-year deal, and other cheap depth pieces including a defenseman.
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