Avalanche UFA Board: Bottom Six Depth Options Remain on The Market

The brunt of the unrestricted free agents have found new homes, but like many other teams, the Avs are still looking for options to fill out their lineup and use what’s left of their cap space.

Trades are still very much going to be a thing, especially when it comes to remaking the blueline. But up front, there are still some guys that could help this team in a depth role.

Avs general manager Chris MacFarland said on Thursday that he’s still keeping tabs on a few options.

Here are five that he could be talking about.

Victor Olofsson, LW, Age: 29

The Avs are still looking for help in the bottom six and Olofsson is the only remaining skater from my first UFA Board on June 30.

If you’re looking for someone who can play the left side on the power play and pound pucks home, then Olofsson isn’t a bad option. He had 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games for the Knights last year in a limited role.

Joe Veleno, C, Age: 25

There was a report earlier in the week that the Avs were favorites to land Veleno. He’s a 25-year-old centerman that was bought out of his contract at one-third of the value because of how young he is.

This is precisely the same way Valeri Nichushkin became an unrestricted free agent in 2019 with the Dallas Stars. And that’s about the only comparison between the two players.

Veleno was a very skilled junior play that just couldn’t find his way with the Red Wings. He’s a centerman, which you could never have too many of, and is the best reclamation project on the market. Can the Avs unlock something in him?

Joel Kiviranta, LW, Age: 29

This is an obvious choice because the Avs know what they’d be getting here. If I had to guess, I’d say Kiviranta is still available because the Avalanche didn’t offer him as much of a raise as he’d like. But that’s entirely a prediction.

If other teams don’t pounce, I’m sure an opportunity to remain in Denver will arise. MacFarland already made it clear that he’d circle back on both Kiviranta and Erik Johnson if needed.

Jack Roslovic, RW, Age: 28

The best forward remaining on the market, Roslovic, who scored 22 goals, is the only option left that had more than Kiviranta’s 16.

If the Avs end up dealing Ross Colton, this is someone that can take his place as a third-line right wing option and can fill in for injuries in the top six. I’m not for dealing Colton at this point, given the surplus of cap space Colorado now holds. But if options arise for MacFarland to shore up and remake the blueline, then trading Colton and signing a slightly cheaper Roslovic is an easy way to create some cap space.

Brett Leason, RW, Age: 26

Listed at 6’5, 220 lbs, Leason can play center or wing. At just 26 years old, he’s a UFA because the Anaheim Ducks didn’t qualify him. Similar to Veleno, Leason could be a solid reclamation project for the Avs, or someone that never dresses and ends up in the AHL. It’s a worthy gamble on a player you can get for around league minimum