Avalanche Report

[AvalancheGM]

Yakupov, Barzal inject offence into Avs' top six

The Colorado Avalanche are bringing back much of their core, but have made some significant changes for the 2026-27 season, especially up front.

The Avs have three new faces in their top six after trading for Nail Yakupov and Mat Barzal, and signing Sidney Crosby in free agency.

Yakupov was the blockbuster move of the off-season, coming in from Pittsburgh for the hefty price of young forwards Jaromir Pytlik and Adam Sykora, a first round pick and defence prospect Niilopekka Muhonen. Colorado also got checking forward Evan Vierling.

The 33-year-old right winger is an elite offensive producer who has regularly scored 30+ goals and approaching 70 points, but the Avs are hoping he can take another step. First he will have to stay healthy after missing 36 games last year and 19 the year before. He had 19 goals and 36 points in 46 games last year and will play with Crosby and Mitch Marner on the top line.

"He's an electrifying player with a big shot who isn't all that bad defensively either. We needed to upgrade our offence," said GM Josh Lewis. "You never like to part with established young talent, but Pytlik was starting to price himself out of our cap and Sykora was headed the same way for someone who's great at what he does well, but isn't physical enough to play third line."

Pytlik, 25, had nine points last year while anchoring the Avs' fourth line and moving up when Shawn Matthias started to succumb to Father Time. Sykora, 22, had 19 points as his linemate while both also killed penalties.

Colorado plans to bring up prospects Conrad Fondrk, 19, and Terik Parascak, 20, to fill their roles. Fondrk was drafted 51st overall in 2025 and Parascak went 73rd in 2024.

Parascak exploded for 65 goals and 97 points in his second AHL season, while Fondrk had 12 goals and 35 points as a rookie pro.

"Terik has definite top six potential, while Fondrk projects as an offence-first two-way centre in the middle six," the GM said.

Meanwhile, Colorado had to clear some cap to make room for Yakupov. They sent veteran winger Alexander Nylander to the Anaheim Ducks along with a fifth-round pick for Barzal and a third-rounder.

Nylander was a staple of the Avs' top six for five seasons, posting 69 points last year and owning a career year of 38 goals and 90 points. But the trade brought $1.6 million in cap savings.

Barzal, 29, has spent his entire career with Anaheim. He posted 22 goals and 56 points last year. He's an elite playmaker who is expected to suit up alongside Juraj Slafkovsky and Nolan Patrick on the second line.

Colorado also acquired winger James Winkler, defenceman Kevin Bahl and a third-round pick that became Brody Pepoy from Dallas for their first-round pick in 2029.

Winkler, 30, has a high-end shot and plays a physical game. He posted 15 goals and 29 points for the Stars last year and has a career high of 34 points. He will play with Jordan Staal and Blake Clarke on the hit and grind line.

Bahl, 26, is a shutdown defender first, second and third who excels more at defending plays than hitting, although he can do that too. He has no offence to speak of but is very consistent. He will battle Simon Despres for playing time on the third pair.

This is the team's expected opening-night lineup:

Yakupov-Crosby-Marner
Slafkovsky-Barzal-Patrick
Clarke-Staal-Winkler
Sanford-Fondrk-Parascak
Ex: Vierling, Hanas

Seider-Power
McAvoy-Nickl
Thrun-Bahl
Ex: Despres

Daws
Clang