The Colorado Avalanche has reportedly added another potential depth scorer just a few weeks before the 2025-26 season begins.
Victor Olofsson, a three-time 20-goal scorer, is expected to sign a one-year contract with the Avs, PuckPedia first reported Tuesday night. Olofsson, who turned 30 years old in July, had 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games for the Vegas Golden Knights this past season.
He joined Vegas after parts of six seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, including a career-best 28 goals in 2022-23. Olofsson’s last season in Buffalo was a dud (seven goals, 15 points in 51 games), and he signed a one-year pact with the Golden Knights for 2024-25.
From 2019-23, Olofsson produced at a 25-goal, 52-point pace per 82 games. He also had 32 power-play goals in that four-year span.
Listed at 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds, Olofsson has been considered an offense-first player for much of his career. He could give Colorado some added scoring punch as a middle-six wing, and he’s had some power-play success in his career. His underlying numbers showed improvement this past season on the defensive side of the puck after joining the Golden Knights — whether or not he can sustain those gains might play a big role in how Jared Bednar deploys him at even strength.
Olofsson had two goals and two assists in nine playoff games for Vegas last year — his first NHL postseason experience. Three of the four points were with the man advantage.
The Avalanche is going to start the season without Logan O’Connor because of hip surgery, and there is at least one more opening in the bottom six beyond that as well, even after bringing Joel Kiviranta back on a one-year deal.
Colorado’s first two lines, assuming good health, look pretty set — centers Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson with some combination of Martin Necas, Artturi Lehkonen, Gabe Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin flanking them. There are now more options for potential third-line roles, even without O’Connor.
Ross Colton, Jack Drury and Parker Kelly now have some competition with the return of Kiviranta and the addition of Olofsson.
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