With training camps around the NHL starting in less than two weeks, four of the most notable remaining unrestricted free agents are former Colorado Avalanche players. As of right now, none of them have a contract, or even a professional tryout agreement, for the 2026-27 season.
That group includes Nick Blankenburg, who was a key trade-deadline addition for the Avalanche last March. Blankenburg struggled early in his stint with the Avs but eventually found his stride as a depth defenseman.
He didn’t ultimately make the difference the front office probably hoped for, largely because he was physically outmatched against bigger teams in Minnesota and Vegas during the playoffs.
His best moment with the Avalanche came in Game 1 of the second round, when he scored against the Wild.
Another notable UFA is Jonathan Drouin, who split the 2025-26 season between the New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues. Drouin signed a two-year contract with the Islanders last July before being traded to St. Louis as a cap dump in the deal that sent Brayden Schenn to the Islanders. The Blues eventually bought out Drouin’s contract.
The Avalanche used Drouin in their top six for two seasons from 2023-25 while Gabe Landeskog recovered from knee cartilage replacement surgery. Drouin, however, hasn’t looked particularly impressive since leaving Colorado. He also struggled during his final season before joining the Avalanche.
Brandon Saad and Tyson Jost round out the former Avalanche UFAs.
Saad spent last season with the Vegas Golden Knights but was mostly a healthy scratch. He appeared in 49 regular-season games, recording three goals and nine points. He also dressed in five playoff games, but none came during the Stanley Cup Final.
Jost, meanwhile, spent the 2025-26 season with the Nashville Predators, appearing in 69 games and recording 16 points.
Jost has played for four different teams in the four seasons since the Avalanche traded him to the Minnesota Wild in 2022. The 26 points he recorded in 2018-19, his age-20 season, remains a career high.
Some of the other top UFAs without an Avalanche connection who remain on the market include forwards Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrik Laine, Michael Bunting, and goaltender Petr Mrazek.
Recently, Eeli Tolvanen came off the board when the New York Rangers signed him to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.