Aarif Deen

2 days ago | coloradohockeynow.com | Aarif Deen

The Edmonton Oilers won an extremely entertaining Game 1 in OT on Wednesday. The Bruins and Penguins were the final two teams to hire a new head coach. Also, what’s the plan for Martin Necas with the Avalanche? All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — June 5. I’m still pretty surprised and pleased to see the Avalanche take care of a big piece of business on Wednesday. They re-signed second-line center Brock Nelson to a three-year contract with a $7.5 million AAV.

4 days ago | coloradohockeynow.com | Aarif Deen

Martin Necas was the key piece of the return that the Avalanche received from the Carolina Hurricanes in the sudden Mikko Rantanen blockbuster trade in January. The 27-year-old was the one that Avs GM Chris MacFarland didn’t want to miss out on. Carolina reportedly was considering dealing Necas to Vancouver in a separate trade, which sped up the urgency for the Avs to trade their franchise winger. They wanted Necas, and they got him.

4 days ago | coloradohockeynow.com | Aarif Deen

The Avalanche locked in their second-line center. Their two core pieces both lost out on an NHL Award. Also, the Stanley Cup Final begins tonight. All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — June 4. The Avs completed a very big part of their offseason before the Stanley Cup Final began. They signed their second-line center, Brock Nelson, to a three-year contract extension. Nelson was acquired from the New York Islanders for Calum Ritchie and a 2026 first-round draft pick in March.

4 days ago | coloradohockeynow.com | Aarif Deen

The biggest question surrounding the Avalanche heading into the offseason was the lack of uncertainty at the second-line center position. But not anymore. Colorado announced on Wednesday that Brock Nelson, the centerman they acquired from the New York Islanders for Calum Ritchie and a first-round draft pick on March 6, is staying. Nelson signed a three-year extension with a $7.5 million AAV. It’s arguably going to be the single most important move the Avalanche make all summer.

4 days ago | coloradohockeynow.com | Aarif Deen

The second-line center position is figured out for the foreseeable future. The Avalanche signed center Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension, the team announced on Wednesday. Nelson was eligible to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 but opted instead to remain with the Avs. His new deal carries a $7.5 million AAV.