Morning Flurries: Nazem Kadri looks good in Burgundy and Blue

Colorado Avalanche fans...

... welcome to a new season!

The Avalanche

Tom got some outside thoughts on what this season will look like for the Avalanche, as well as, how they did in the off-season. [Mile High Hockey]

No. Just like all these RFAs, eventually it will get done. We’re just in a weird zone where everyone is holding everyone else up. If I had to bet on it, I’d think Rantanen is the second domino to fall after Brayden Point, whenever that happens. I’m looking at the Leafs and Mitch Marner in a similar situation, and while I enjoy arguing about it and following the drama, I don’t worry in the slightest about it settling out.

Lauren is quickly becoming one of the most vital prospect minds in the network. She released her initial prospect report for the Colorado Avalanche yesterday, complete with what to watch for in each prospect this season and the best times to watch them. [Mile High Hockey]

Another invite to training camp, Alex Beaucage won a Memorial Cup last season and played on an incredibly dominant line (with Montreal Canadiens prospect Joel Teasdale and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Peter Abbandonato). This season, both of his linemates have aged out of the QMHL, meaning it’s up to Beaucage to replicate his offensive production and prove that his point totals last season were no fluke. Can he take that step towards driving offense for the rebuilding Huskies? That’s something he’ll have to address this season.

The Avalanche want to take another step this year, they think they’re ready and they’re not prepared to settle. [NHL dot com]

The Avalanche improved its depth since its Game 7 loss in the second round to the San Jose Sharks in early May. After back-to-back playoff trips in 2018 and 2019, Colorado looked to keep momentum rolling in the offseason, bolstering its roster through trades and free agency. Among the new arrivals is forward Nazem Kadri.

Speaking of Naz. He looks pretty good in his new threads, don’t you think?

Altitude host Kyle Keefe has some words of encouragement and praise for his young lads ahead of what should be a very exciting season to say the least.

The Avalanche have also hired a new in-arena reporter, Rachel Richlinski. Welcome to the family!

Training Camp

We’re going to have a full training camp article out a few minutes after the links get published, but for now here is the one surprise that has been included in the release. The Avalanche have signed right winger Colin Campbell to a Professional Try-Out contract for training camp.

Avs Fan Fest will also take place on September 26th, though the link to RSVP is facing some unresolved technical issues. I’m sure it will be re-published soon, but for now, here is a save-the-date.

The League

Ivan Provorov has signed a new six-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. Look to this to be a comparable for the young defensemen the Avalanche have coming up. [Broad Street Hockey]

As for the average annual value of said contract, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that the AAV will $6.75 million. This appears to be a major victory for the Flyers given that there were talks originally Provorov’s camp was requesting around or north of eight million over eight years. This contract would take Provorov through the 2024-25 season.

Winnipeg still doesn’t have Kyle Connor or Patrik Laine signed to an extension. Something might be close with Laine, though?

Jets training camp is also short on Big Buff, after Dustin Byfuglien had to take a personal leave of absence from the team.

Lastly, Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore has cancer. Let us all hope that he and his family get through this terrible disease. F*ck Cancer. [The Players Tribune]

When I heard the news, I was still kind of in shock. Everything happened really fast. We had gotten knocked out of the playoffs a lot sooner than we expected. But then a few days later, I had the opportunity to join Team Canada at the Worlds — so everything was really a blur. I remember me and Jonathan Marchessault getting to Slovakia and sharing a hotel room with twin beds, literally about three inches apart.