The Avs defenseman was a Restricted Free Agent with arbitration rights.
On the eve of the NHL’s free agency window opening, the Colorado Avalanche got their most important RFA signed, as the club announced a one-year extension to defenseman Sam Malinski this morning, according to PuckPedia. Time was getting urgent on this matter as Malinski held arbitration rights, which he could have filed for within a week. The extension is valued at $1.4 million for this upcoming season, and Malinski will be an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) next July, setting up what figures to be his “make it or break it” season in Colorado.
Avs sign Malinski to a one-year deal. $7.55M left in cap space. https://t.co/7nM7V5VNxp
— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) June 30, 2025
Malinski, 26, was an NCAA free agent signing of the Avs out of Cornell University in 2023. The right-handed defenseman spent the 2023-24 season splitting time between the Avs and the Colorado Eagles, showing some promising production upside with 10 points in 23 games before earning an everyday NHL job this past season. The production pace was nowhere near his small sample size as a first year pro, as Malinski was only able to produce 15 points in 76 games with the Avalanche this season. Despite the lack of point production last season, he did a lot of things well when the puck was on his stick. He’s a good puck mover who can jump into the play offensively and generate chances with his skating.
Sam Malinski, signed 1x$1.4M by COL, is a two-way right defenceman who skates fast and does a lot of stuff with the puck. He’s less than 6 feet tall though. pic.twitter.com/N3D4Uxncy7
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 30, 2025
Malinski figures to continue to operate as a bottom pairing defenseman for the Avs this season, and nearly completes the Avs defensive depth for the season. The Avalanche still need to find another defenseman for the left side, as well as a couple of wingers, and this move will leave them with $7.55 million in cap space to play with ahead of tomorrow’s free agency window. It’s a cheap value contract for the Avs this season as they prepare for free agency business.
As a UFA next summer with only 99 NHL games under his belt, Malinski will have the opportunity to continue to grow in the Avs system this upcoming season before any club can lend an offer towards him. If he can prove himself this season in a more established role with tougher competition, he could earn himself a lot of money on the open market in 2026.