Avalanche Submit 20-Man Roster On Eve of 2026-27 Season

As Monday approached, the Colorado Avalanche faced an inevitable decision regarding their roster. The NHL required teams to submit their 20-man active roster by 3 p.m. Mountain Time. The Avalanche roster included two goalies, seven defensemen, and 11 forwards. Two forwards, Logan O’Connor and Zachary L’Heureux, were on injured reserve. The status of these players was uncertain, with Coach Jared Bednar expecting a better idea by Tuesday.

If O’Connor and L’Heureux were ready to play, Colorado could potentially reach a 22-man roster for opening night, adding an extra forward or defenseman. However, if neither could play, the team might have to settle for a roster of 11 forwards and seven defensemen. The team's salary cap situation made it unlikely they could call up another forward, possibly resulting in a 11-forward and 7-defenseman lineup.

The Avalanche also had roughly $277,000 in cap hits from three players placed on season-opening non-active injured reserve, Trent Miner, Taylor Makar, and Georgii Merkulov. Despite this financial constraint, Coach Bednar remained unalarmed about the injuries over the weekend. The team will have to wait until Tuesday to see the final roster configuration.