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The gush of NHL free-agent signings in early July has now slowed to a trickle, but the Colorado Avalanche still found a player they liked on Monday, which might not be good news for former Ottawa Senator Erik Brannstrom or Carp’s Calvin de Haan.
The Avs further bolstered the depth of a now-crowded blue line by signing 27-year-old defenceman Oliver Kylington to a one-year contract worth $1.05 million. The Stockholm native was drafted by Calgary in the second round, 60th overall, in 2015. He recorded 55 points in 201 games over six seasons with the Flames.
Kylington played 33 games last season, recording eight points, but he missed the first half of the campaign (and the entire season before) due to undisclosed personal reasons.
Like Kylington, Brannstrom and de Haan are left-shot defencemen who signed their one-year deals with Colorado earlier this summer. The Avs also have Sam Malinski in the mix, and with Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Samuel Girard, and Josh Manson all locked in as mainstays, there are more NHL defencemen than there are jobs.
The four depth defencemen would need to clear waivers if the Avs try to send any of them to the minors after camp ends.
Despite playing 266 games in Ottawa, Brannstrom wasn’t in Ottawa’s plans for this season. GM Steve Staios opted not to give the RFA a qualifying offer, so he signed with the Avs as a UFA.
The 5-foot-10 Brannstrom was once seen by the Senators as their crown jewel in the 2019 Mark Stone trade, but the writing was on the wall this summer, especially when Staios made his preference for bigger players pretty clear at this year’s draft. Staios selected three defencemen: one who was 6-foot-3, one who was 6-foot-4, and the other who was 6-foot-7.
The 33-year-old de Haan played for Tampa Bay last season, dressing for 59 games and scoring 10 points. His 632 NHL games are the most of any active Avalanche defenceman.
Assuming everyone arrives at camp healthy, it should be an interesting battle in Denver this fall.