The Colorado Avalanche didn’t need Victor Olofsson. That’s what makes this so infuriating for the rest of the NHL.
According to reports, the Avalanche dove into the free-agent market late Tuesday night and grabbed the 30-year-old Swedish winger on a one-year deal, adding another weapon to a roster already overflowing with them. The rich, as they say, just keep getting richer.
“I think this is kind of a brilliant signing,” said Zach Pearson from the Locked on Avalanche podcast.
Especially considering the price. While the financial terms have not been officially announced, speculation indicates that the deal is expected to be in the $800K to $1 million range. For a team with minimal cap space, the contract should fit in nicely.
“I am a [Colorado general manager] Chris MacFarland defender, and I’ve always said, when there is a need, he goes out and gets it,” said podcast co-host Chris Micieli. “We can talk about if those moves have worked out. Sure, some of them have not. How is that any different than any other team? You want the moves to work out, but here is another need that, the Avalanche needed some depth, and he goes out and gets one of the better remaining free agents on the market.”
Avalanche Add Goal-Scoring Depth With Signing of Winger Victor Olofsson
On the ice, the player should fit in nicely as well, because Olofsson has built a career on doing one thing exceptionally well: scoring goals.
A seventh-round pick in 2014, Olofsson didn’t become a full-time NHLer until the 2019 season, but when he did, he wasted no time showing his value. That year in Buffalo, he popped 20 goals as a rookie and quickly earned a reputation for his quick release and deadly shot from the circles. He’s since recorded three separate 20-goal seasons, hitting a career-high 28 in 2022-23, and his best overall year came in 2021-22 when he finished with 49 points.
“He’s not the the speediest guy, which, the Avs love speed,” Micieli said. “I mean, he can keep up with the Joneses, that’s not the problem. He’s not going to blow you away the speed, but it’s his shot.”
The story has never been about talent — it’s been about availability.
Olofsson has played 70-plus games in a season just twice, averaging roughly 60 games per year over his career. That durability issue has held him back from being more than a complementary scorer, but when he’s on the ice, the numbers speak for themselves.
Last season in Vegas, Olofsson played only 56 games, but he still scored 15 goals and 29 points while posting a plus-17 rating, the best mark of his career. That’s what Colorado is betting on: a proven scorer who doesn’t need top-line minutes to produce, and who could flourish in a role where the pressure is off.
And that’s where the Avalanche come in.
Victor Olofsson Brings Dangerous Shot to Already Dangerous Avalanche Roster
Already one of the deepest rosters in hockey, Colorado didn’t enter the offseason desperate for offense. They have a star-laden top six, a power play stacked with firepower, and the kind of depth that wears teams down over seven games.
But by adding Olofsson, the Avs shored up the bottom half of the lineup with a player who has shown he can score at a 20-goal pace even in a limited role. It’s the sort of marginal move that championship organizations make — and it makes Colorado even harder to match up against.
If he stays healthy, it’s not unreasonable to think Olofsson could push past 20 goals again, especially with the talent around him in Denver. If he doesn’t, the cost of the deal is so light that it won’t hurt the Avalanche in the slightest. That’s the beauty of it. For most teams, a signing like this would be a gamble. For Colorado, it’s just a flex. They can afford to take the risk, and they’re the kind of team that usually gets the reward.
The Avalanche have long separated themselves from the pack not just with their stars, but with their ability to squeeze value from every roster spot. Olofsson is the latest example. He won’t be asked to carry the offense, he won’t be asked to play above his station — he’ll simply be asked to do what he does best. Score goals, add depth, and make life miserable for opponents already trying to slow down one of the NHL’s most dangerous teams.
For everyone else in the league, it’s another reminder that the Avalanche are playing a different game. While rivals scramble for help, Colorado continues to stack talent at a discount. Olofsson may not be the move that defines their season, but it’s exactly the kind of deal that tilts the balance a little further in their favor.
The gap between the Avalanche and everyone else wasn’t small to begin with. Now, thanks to one more clever signing, it just got wider.
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