Bedard Signs New Contract | Which Players Would Avs Freeze If Another Expansion Draft Took Place?

Bedard Signs New Contract | Which Players Would Avs Freeze If Another Expansion Draft Took Place?

From Locked On Avalanche - Daily Podcast On The Colorado Avalanche by Locked On Podcast Network, kyle sullivan, chris micieli

July 20, 2026 · 40 min · Episode 1429

About this episode

The episode discusses Connor Bedard's new contract with the Chicago Blackhawks and explores which Colorado Avalanche players would be protected in a hypothetical expansion draft.

Connor Bedard inks a 5-year, $15 million AAV deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, raising fresh questions about modern NHL contract strategies. Is Bedard leaving money on the table, or betting on himself with flexible term in a rising salary cap era? Chris Micieli and Zach Pearson compare Bedard’s blockbuster contract to Leo Carlsson’s, discuss the implications for Chicago’s rebuild, and speculate how future deals—like Cale Makar’s potentially massive extension with the Colorado Avalanche—might reshape the league’s financial landscape. The conversation shifts to a hypothetical NHL expansion draft: which Colorado Avalanche players would be protected or exposed? Chris Micieli and Zach Pearson make their picks, debate keeping veterans like Nazem Kadri or Logan O’Connor, and consider sleeper choices for an expansion roster. Plus, hear a first-hand account of encountering the Stanley Cup up close. How would you freeze the Avalanche roster if the draft happened today?

People in this episode

Host: Chris Micieli

Guest: Zach Pearson

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Chicago Blackhawks

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