Canucks Champion Puts Pen-to-Paper on Multi-Year Contract with the Colorado Avalanche

Four months ago, the Abbotsford Canucks celebrated their first-ever Calder Cup in team history thanks to some incredible performances up and down the lineup from guys like Linus Karlsson & Arshdeep Bains to Playoff MVP Arturs Silovs.

This season, Abbotsford's roster looks a bit different as some players have been brought up to the National Hockey League and some have moved on to other teams around the globe, although the Canucks were able to bring back Jujhar Khaira recently, signing him to a one-year deal for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.

One member of the organization that decided to leave this summer was forward Tristen Nielsen, who signed a one-year deal with another American Hockey League club, but after a hot start to the season, the ex-Abbotsford Canuck has landed himself an NHL contract.

In a press release on Monday, the Colorado Avalanche announced that they've agreed to terms on a two-year contract, with PuckPedia reporting that the deal is worth the league minimum of $775,000 US annually.

Nielsen, a native of Fort St. John, British Columbia, joined the Vancouver Canucks organization in 2021 as an undrafted free agent following parts of six seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Calgary Hitmen and Vancouver Giants.

As mentioned, the 25-year-old centermen signed with the AHL's Colorado Eagles back in August and has gone on to register seven points (three goals, four assists), four penalty minutes and is a plus-five in seven games to start the 2025-26 season.

Nielsen, who is in his fifth season of professional hockey, is still waiting for his National Hockey League debut and if he continues his hot start in the AHL, he could certainly be in line for a call up at some point before New Year's.

Source: Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche Signs Nielsen