The Avalanche recently re-signed defenseman Sam Malinski to a four year, $4.75 million AAV contact that keeps the young blueliner in Colorado until 2030. Originally an undrafted prospect, Malinski joined the Avalanche and their AHL affiliate the Colorado Eagles in 2023, playing seven games after finishing his career at Cornell University.
Malinski spent only one season splitting his time in the AHL, though, and he’s been a regular part of Colorado’s blueline since last year, proving to be an exciting young player who, looking back on it, a few teams probably would’ve been willing to spend a pick on.
Last year, Malinski had 5 goals and 10 assists in 76 regular season games for 15 points, and played in all 5 of Colorado’s games in the postseason, recording a single assist. This year, as the Avalanche have dominated just about every team they’ve come across with a 36-8-9 record, Malinski’s shown out with 3 goals and 22 assists for 25 points in just 53 games for the Avalanche, almost doubling his total points from a year ago in just over half of his second full NHL season. Only one other defenseman on the team has more assists than him, and they won the Norris trophy last year.
Malinski has been an invaluable piece of the team not only as a set-up man (as evidenced by his 22 assists) but has also shown a great amount of versatility on the defense as well. He’s played on the top pairing with Cale Makar in Devon Toews absence, and his ability to play up and down the lineup has proven itself to be an even greater asset as injuries have effected the Colorado lineup constantly throughout this season.
The deal for Malinski, 4 years for $19 million total, expires at the same time as much of the rest of the Avalanche’s core, showing just how invaluable the 27-year-old defenseman has become in just over three seasons playing with the club.
With Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin, and Toews’ contracts expiring the same year, and Makar’s in 2028, the Avs have seemingly locked in their top players for their next Stanley Cup Window.
.png){kind=spacer}