Some notable news came out this morning, as the Colorado Avalanche announced a two-year contract for another top experienced forward, keeping him with the team through the 2027–28 season. The timing couldn’t be better — fresh off a weekend performance in which he tallied three points, including two goals and an overtime winner in Vancouver, the young winger is starting to build real momentum just 15 games into his NHL career.
Signing a two-year deal this early in the final season of his entry-level contract is a positive sign, though it doesn’t represent a major long-term commitment from the team. The specifics tell the story: the first year is a two-way deal with just a $300K guarantee, and the $875K annual cap hit is fully buriable. In essence, this resembles the type of minor-league extension the Avalanche gave defenseman Keaton Middleton last spring.
The move makes sense for both sides. If Brindley cements himself as an NHL regular — and proves he can contribute beyond a fourth-line role — the contract could look like a bargain down the road. For Colorado, it carries virtually no risk since it can be buried in the minors without penalty, though there’s a small financial commitment in the second year. Still, this deal doesn’t signal full confidence from the Avalanche just yet. It’s far from the type of contract Logan O’Connor received as a restricted free agent ($1.05 million AAV over three years) after 43 NHL games, and only slightly above what Brindley might have earned this summer as an RFA.
Ultimately, the extension suggests both sides are cautiously optimistic — the Avalanche protecting flexibility, and Brindley securing some stability while betting on himself to carve out a lasting NHL role.