The young Russian re-signs and gives himself an opportunity to earn a bigger contract after next season.
Restricted free agent Mikhail Grigorenko has signed a one-year deal with the Avalanche, avoiding arbitration and punting on his opportunity to sign long-term until next offseason.
Grigorenko, 22, was a featured piece in the deal that sent Ryan O’Reilly to the Buffalo Sabres last offseason and shined through numerous stretches of last season, despite getting irregular playing time early on. He finished with six goals and 21 assists last season — good for tenth on the team. It was his first full season in the NHL, playing 74 games, after a few partial seasons with the Sabres.