The Colorado Avalanche added some offensive punch to their lineup Wednesday by signing free-agent winger Victor Olofsson to a one-year contract. PuckPedia reports it is worth $1.575 million.

Olofsson, 30, spent last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and contributed 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games while playing on a one-year deal worth $1.075 million. He played in nine of the Golden Knights’ 11 playoff games and scored twice while assisting on two goals.

While not known for a strong all-around game, Olofsson is a goal scorer, as evidenced by a career total of 105 in 370 NHL games. A seventh-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2014, Olofsson spent his first six years there and had three 20-goal seasons topped by a career-high 28 in 2022-23.

What Avalanche are getting

In Olofsson, the Avalanche add a solid depth winger with a good shot who can contribute on the power play. Last season in Vegas, Olofsson played mostly on the left wing and showed he has the hockey sense to play with strong offensive players. He also contributed six goals on the power play despite only playing in a limited role. Olofsson served as a fill-in for Golden Knights leading scorer Pavel Dorofeyev on the right side of the top power play unit and showed good finishing ability from there.

He could surprise offensively in Colorado, depending on who he ends up playing with. Olofsson could slot in on the Avs’ third line and get some time on their power play. While he might not be a first-unit option, Olofsson has long possessed an excellent one-time shot and has 41 of his 105 goals on the man advantage.

Olofsson’s signing helps fill holes Colorado had by losing Jonathan Drouin to free agency and trading Miles Wood, though the return of captain Gabriel Landeskog fills one of those. Landeskog made a stirring return to the Avs’ lineup for the 2025 playoffs and scored in a 4-0 Game 4 win over Dallas after missing two full seasons and most of 2024-25 due to a serious knee injury.

Where this leaves Vegas

While Olofsson was a solid fit last season for the Golden Knights on a 50-win, 110-point Pacific Division champion team, they entered this offseason with a clear objective to upgrade on the wing. They did that in a big way by signing Mitch Marner to an eight-year, $96 million contract.

Vegas also chose to bring back depth wingers Reilly Smith and Brandon Saad on cheap, one-year deals, so Olofsson was the odd man out.

(Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)