GRAND FORKS — Christian Wolanin last played in the NHL during the 2022-23 season.
The former UND defenseman has earned another chance to get back there.
Wolanin has signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche. According to PuckPedia, he’ll make $850,000 if he’s in the NHL and $400,000 if he’s with Colorado’s top minor-league affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.
In Colorado, Wolanin will be reunited with Dave Hakstol, the head coach who recruited him to UND. Hakstol left for the NHL before Wolanin’s freshman year, though. Hakstol is an assistant coach with the Avalanche.
Wolanin was on an American Hockey League deal last season with the Providence Bruins, the top affiliate of the NHL’s Boston Bruins.
He scored seven goals and tallied 31 points in 53 games for Providence.
In 2024-25, Wolanin won an AHL Calder Cup with the Abbotsford Canucks, the top affiliate of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.
Wolanin played three seasons at UND from 2015-18, helping the Fighting Hawks win their eighth NCAA national championship as a freshman.
As a junior, he became the first defenseman to lead UND in scoring since James Patrick in 1983. Wolanin signed with the Ottawa Senators after that season.
Wolanin split time between the NHL and AHL in his first five full seasons of professional hockey. That included stints with the Senators, Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks.
His last NHL game was on March 23, 2023, for Vancouver against San Jose.
Wolanin has played 86 total NHL games. He’s scored six goals and tallied 23 points in those games.
Wolanin is the 18th former UND player to sign an NHL contract for the 2026-27 season.
The others are Jacob Bernard-Docker (Detroit), Jackson Blake (Carolina), Brock Boeser (Vancouver), Sacha Boisvert (Chicago), Judd Caulfield (Anaheim), Dylan James (Detroit), Matt Kiersted (Minnesota), Tyler Kleven (Ottawa), Jake Livanavage (Pittsburgh), Caleb MacDonald (Columbus), Brock Nelson (Colorado), Shane Pinto (Ottawa), Jake Sanderson (Ottawa), Nick Schultz (Utah), Cole Smith (Chicago), Troy Stecher (Toronto) and Abram Wiebe (Calgary).
Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.