The deadline for the Colorado Avalanche to set their initial roster is Monday, and there were a couple of surprises in the past two days.
Every NHL team is allowed a maximum of 23 players on the active roster from Monday through the trade deadline in March. There were no surprises among the players still on the Avs roster after practice Sunday, but the club made more cuts than expected.
Forward Ben Meyers and defenseman Sam Malinski were assigned to the Colorado Eagles, while forward Riley Tufte was placed on waivers. The Avs put defensemen Brad Hunt and Jack Achan on waivers Saturday, and both cleared so they’re eligible to join the Eagles.
If everyone who is not participating in training camp because of injury goes on injured reserve as expected, the Avalanche will have 21 players on the active roster, not the maximum 23.
One player who did earn a spot is Fredrik Olofsson. He won the competition for the fourth-line center role, and Bednar confirmed he’s made the club. He skated between Andrew Cogliano and Logan O’Connor at practice Sunday.
“We have a need at center and Olofsson had a great camp,” Bednar said. “He’s played well for us and has a little bit of experience. So he wins that center job, and we don’t have any more room for now. I thought all of those guys did a nice job and we’ll see what happens.”
Things can still change between the Monday deadline and Wednesday night in Los Angeles when the Avs open their season against the Kings. They could attempt to claim any of the numerous players from other clubs who were also on waivers Sunday.
The Avalanche could also recall any of the players who were sent to the Eagles on Tuesday or Wednesday, provided they have the necessary space below the $83.5 million salary cap ceiling. That is where this could be tricky.
Captain Gabe Landeskog is expected to miss the entire season, and his $7 million will land on long-term injured reserve Monday. The Avs are then allowed to go over the $83.5 million cap, which they are already planning for with some of their offseason additions.
The key to the early-season roster may be goalie Pavel Francouz, who has been absent from camp and the club has offered no timeline on a return. According to CapFriendly’s roster-building tools, the Avs would have $2.525 million in space with the current 21-man roster … if Francouz also goes on LTIR.
If Francouz is placed on LTIR, he has to miss a minimum of the first 10 games of the season. If Francouz goes on regular injured reserve, he doesn’t count toward the 23-man roster limit, but his $2 million cap hit remains. And that wouldn’t leave the Avs with enough room to add a 22nd or 23rd player.
There is one guy among the 21 players remaining in camp who isn’t sure if he’ll be ready for Wednesday — Cogliano. He wore a normal practice jersey Sunday for the first time in camp, shedding the non-contact sweater. But neither he nor Bednar was ready to pronounce him ready for the opener as he works his way back from two neck fractures sustained during the Seattle series in April.
If Cogliano can’t play Wednesday and the Avs don’t add someone to the roster between now and then, Kurtis MacDermid would likely slot in on the fourth line.
“In terms of the fractures, they are completely healed,” Cogliano said. “Now it’s about everything that goes with the muscles and just making sure I’m comfortable. I’m close.”
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