The Colorado Avalanche signed its most important restricted free agent the day before the market opens.
Sam Malinski and the Avs have agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract for the 2025-26 season, according to a league source. Malinski, who will turn 27 years old next month, had five goals and 15 points in 76 games in his first full NHL season this past year for the Avs.
A 5-foot-11, 190-pound defenseman, Malinski was an undrafted free agent in March 2023 after four years at Cornell. He had three goals and 10 points in 23 games in 2023-24 before becoming a regular in the lineup this past season.