Today is an important day in the prospect development cycle, the day in which future NHL contracts can be signed and registered. This means that organizations can begin to shape their prospect depth charts for the 2026-27 season. Despite the Colorado Avalanche decimating their prospect pipeline there are still a few players relevant to this decision point and could ink a contract in short order.
Max Curran
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Max Curran’s rights expire on June 1, 2026 as the talented forward was selected in the fifth round out of the WHL in the 2024 NHL draft before the new CBA’s rule changes. He’s enjoyed a good if not great junior career and is ready to take the next step in hockey next fall. This is a contract the Avalanche front office should execute before losing Curran’s rights as they don’t have many prospects to sign, especially up front. The 19-year-old helped his cause with a nice World Juniors performance and was a key player in Czechia’s semi-final defeat of Canada.
Complicating matters, though, Curran suffered an upper-body injury in January shortly after his return to the WHL and is currently listed out month-to-month, which calls into question if his season is over. If so, has Curran done enough with 41 points in 31 games to earn a contract from the Avalanche?
Another wrinkle to this story is that on February 3rd it was announced that Curran has committed to UMass for the 2026-27 season. Is this the backup plan if he doesn’t receive an offer from Colorado or does he already know it’s not coming? He is known to be an excellent student and this is an exciting opportunity for him but if Colorado gives up their rights to him, Curran would become a college free agent and free to sign anywhere when he is ready to move on from the NCAA.
Christian Humphreys
It is going to be very interesting to watch which direction Christian Humphreys goes after his season with the Kitchener Rangers wraps up. The talented forward has enjoyed a very productive 19-year old season in junior with 78 points in 56 games. As he was drafted out of the US NTDP, Humphries’ rights do not expire this summer unlike Curran and therefore several options are open to him.
Now with the NCAA door back open to junior players, Humphreys could return to college instead of turning pro. He played a semester at Michigan in the fall after he was drafted in 2024 but then made the move to the OHL to finish out the season, which was a much better fit for him. Humphreys entered the transfer portal so it’s unlikely he’d return to Michigan but college could be a much more appealing opportunity than heading to the AHL right away. If he’s offered a NHL contract to turn pro those opportunities are tough to turn down, though.
Mikhail Gulyayev
As always, contract decisions on Russians are a bit delayed as their playing season extends through the spring and after a recent change KHL contracts now don’t expire until June 1st. So, don’t expect any news right as the March 1st window opens but there’s realistic possibility that Mikhail Gulyayev signs an ELC sometime this spring and begins his North American career in the 2026-27 season. After a tough season with a marginalized role, playing forward at times and then a month’s absence due to a facial injury it is time for a chance of scenery for the talented defenseman. The 20-year-old has scored just three points in 46 games this year and needs to get his offensive game back on track with a new opportunity that’s hopefully on the horizon.
Francesco Dell’Elce
The Avalanche don’t have any graduating seniors currently in the NCAA but as always they could sign a few players early out of college if they are deemed ready to turn pro. Most notably is defenseman Francesco Dell’Elce who has enjoyed another productive year at UMass. As a 20-year old sophomore he scored 21 points n 31 games and should set a career high in production this season. It should be no secret that Dell’Elce profiles similarly to a left handed Sam Malinski, and the Avalanche do have a type, so another year or two of college development before signing a NHL contract wouldn’t be a bad plan of action but it’s not out of the question he signs after this year.
What are your predictions on who signs with the Avalanche? Who do you consider Colorado’s top unsigned prospect?
