Avalanche face cap crunch in 2026 offseason

Colorado enters the 2026 offseason with just $2.98 million in projected cap space after recent trades for Nazem Kadri and Nicolas Roy.

Tight cap forces tough choices on UFAs

The Avalanche hold only $2.98 million in cap room according to PuckPedia, leaving little margin for error on pending unrestricted free agents Brent Burns and Brett Kulak. Burns signed an incentive-laden one-year deal last summer that created a $2.3 million overage carryover into 2026-27. Kulak arrived via trade from Pittsburgh in February 2026. Retaining both would consume nearly the entire available space at minimum raises, forcing the team to prioritize one over the other or pursue league-minimum depth signings only.

Ross Colton enters the final year of his contract and has drawn consistent trade speculation as a potential cap casualty. Moving his salary would create breathing room for re-signings while avoiding a larger extension. The front office has already executed multiple deadline deals that added salary, including Kadri at a $7 million cap hit with 20 percent retained by Calgary.

Preparing for Makar extension amid limited flexibility

Cale Makar remains on his current $9 million deal with one year remaining after 2026-27. Time is running out on that friendly number, and any new contract will push the team well over the cap unless additional relief is found this summer. The Avalanche currently carry 17 players under contract through 2027 or beyond, limiting maneuverability.

Jack Drury and Zakhar Bardakov are restricted free agents whose qualifying offers must fit inside the slim remaining space. Drury provides bottom-six stability while Bardakov offers cost-controlled depth after averaging under eight minutes per game in 2025-26. Extending either player at even modest raises would require offsetting moves elsewhere.

Draft capital and long-term roster construction

Colorado holds multiple 2026 draft selections, including fourth-rounders and several sevenths, providing future assets but little immediate cap relief. The team cannot afford to overcommit this summer without risking the ability to protect key pieces ahead of the 2027 expansion draft or further trades. Recent acquisitions like Nicolas Roy and Kadri signal a win-now posture, yet the cap math demands surgical precision rather than splashy additions.

Retaining Burns would add veteran leadership on the blue line at a bonus-laden structure similar to his prior deal. Kulak fills a third-pairing role at lower cost. Choosing between them while addressing Colton creates the clearest path to maintaining competitiveness without mortgaging future flexibility.