Colorado Avalanche re-sign Wyatt Aamodt to one-year extension

The Colorado Avalanche have extended defenseman Wyatt Aamodt, re-sign him for a one-year contract.

Aamodt had just completed his one-year contract which he signed after ending his college career in April 2022, where he hit a cap of $925,000. He would have been a restricted free agent this offseason with arbitration rights had they not agreed to an extension. There are no confirmed details other than the length and that it is an NHL deal instead of an AHL deal like the last one, but it will likely be around the same value annual average and will be a two-way contract.

Aamodt had a strong first season in professional hockey, as he had 3 goals, 15 assists and 18 points in 52 games with the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, in the regular season, and earned a added assist in seven games in the playoffs as they lost in the divisional semifinals to the Coachella Valley Firebirds. He also played three regular-season games in 2021-22 after signing with the Avs, and nine playoff games, though he was useless in all 12 games combined.

Aamodt was an undrafted player, instead going to Minnesota State University to play for their WCHA team, where he had 10 goals, 19 assists and 29 points in 123 games over four seasons. He had spent three seasons in the USHL playing for the Chicago Steel and Lincoln Stars prior to his draft year, where he had 5 goals, 41 assists and 46 points in 115 games.

This is the Avalanche’s second signing this offseason, after also signing defenseman Nathan Clurman to a one-year contract last week. They currently have 10 other players whose deals are expiring in their minor league system, with five unrestricted free agents and four restricted free agents.

As for the big league team, the Avalanche currently have just over $13 million in cap space to work with this offseason, although they currently only have five forwards, five defensemen and two guards signed for next season, along with the biggest names in free agents. being RFA Bowen Byram and UFA JT Compher. They will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing first-round outing amid an injury-riddled season in hopes of regaining Stanley Cup success in 2022.