The NHL’s wave of free agent signings in early July has slowed, but the Colorado Avalanche still found a player they like on Monday, which might not be good news for former Ottawa Senator Erik Brannstrom. or to Calvin de Haan of Carp.
The Avs further bolstered the depth of a now-crowded blue line by signing 27-year-old defenseman Oliver Kylington to a one-year, $1.05 million contract. 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, scoring eight points, but missed the first half of the campaign (and the entire season before that) for undisclosed personal reasons.
Like Kylington, Brannstrom and de Haan are left-shooting defensemen who signed 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 as cornerstones, there are more NHL defensemen than jobs.
The four depth defensemen would need to clear waivers if the Avs tried to send any of them to the minors after camp ends.
Despite playing 266 games in Ottawa, Brannstrom was not in Ottawa’s plans for this season. GM Steve Staios chose not to give RFA a qualifying offer, so he signed with the Avs as a UFA.
The 5-foot-10 Brannstrom was once viewed 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 in this year’s draft very clear. Staios selected three defensemen: one 6-foot-2, one 6-foot-1 and the other 6-foot-10.
De Haan, 33, 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 defenseman.
Assuming everyone arrives at camp healthy, it should be an interesting battle in Denver this fall.
