**Avalanche Secure Brock Nelson with Three-Year Contract Extension**

The future of the Colorado Avalanche's second-line center position is secure as the team announced on Wednesday the signing of Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension. Nelson was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 but chose to remain with the Avalanche. His new contract comes with an annual average value (AAV) of $7.5 million.

"We're thrilled to have reached an agreement with Brock to keep him in Colorado for the next three seasons," stated Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland in the team release. "He's been a great center in this league for a long time, and he brings professionalism and a dedicated work ethic on and off the ice. We think he's a great fit and is a stabilizing presence to our second-line center role with his size and ability to touch all areas of the ice."

Nelson joined the Avalanche at the trade deadline from the New York Islanders in exchange for top prospect Calum Ritchie and a 2026 first-round draft pick. In the 19 regular-season games following the trade, Nelson tallied six goals and seven assists. He continued to contribute in the playoffs, adding four assists in seven games.

In the postseason, Nelson centered a line with Valeri Nichushkin and the returning Gabe Landeskog. His pivotal playmaking facilitated Landeskog's first goal in three years, showcasing his value to the team's offense.

"We're excited to see what his contributions will be over a larger sample size with the Avalanche," added MacFarland.

With Nelson's contract extension secured, the Avalanche's front office can now focus on other crucial roster decisions. The team needs to sign or find replacements for key players like Jonathan Drouin, Joel Kiviranta, Ryan Lindgren, and Erik Johnson. Following Nelson's signing, the Avalanche have less than $2 million in salary cap space, indicating that some salary might need to be moved out via trade to accommodate further additions.