Chris MacFarland got the biggest part of his holiday shopping done early this year.
While the NHL creeps toward crowning its champion for the 2024-25 season and prepares for its annual spending spree three weeks from Tuesday, MacFarland and the Colorado Avalanche crossed the No. 1 item off the offseason list this past week by signing center Brock Nelson to a three-year, $22.5 million contract.
The No. 2 center behind Nathan MacKinnon has been an ongoing issue since Nazem Kadri left for Calgary after the 2022 Stanley Cup run. Nelson, who turns 34 years old in October, should give the Avs the most stability at that spot than the club has had in four years.