Avalanche bring back Cogliano on 1-year deal

The Colorado Avalanche signed unrestricted free-agent forward Andrew Cogliano to a one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.

The financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but The Athletic's Peter Baugh reports the contract is worth $1.25 million.

Colorado acquired Cogliano from the San Jose Sharks before this season's trade deadline for a fifth-round pick in 2024. He went on to play a key defensive role in the Avalanche's bottom six to help the club capture its first Stanley Cup in 21 years.

Cogliano posted six points in 16 playoff games while averaging under 10 minutes per contest.

"Andrew was such a big part of our Stanley Cup championship with his leadership and veteran presence," general manager Joe Sakic said in a statement. "He battled back from various injuries throughout the playoffs and played key minutes for us when we needed it the most. He's a great teammate who works hard on and off the ice and sets a great example for the rest of the group. We're excited to have him back for another season."

The 35-year-old was a first-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2005. He's also had stints with the Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars, recording 426 points in 1,140 career games.

Several key UFA's remain on Colorado's book with signing season around the corner, including Darcy Kuemper, Valeri Nichushkin, Josh Manson, and Andre Burakovsky. The Avalanche have approximately $24 million in cap space.