Avalanche sign RFA defenseman Sam Malinski to one-year contract: report

The Colorado Avalanche signed its majority essential restricted free agent the day before the arena opens Sam Malinski and the Avs have agreed to a one-year million contract for the - season according to a account from PuckPedia Malinski who will turn years old next month had five goals and points in games in his first full NHL season this past year for the Avs A -foot- -pound defenseman Malinski was an undrafted free agent in March after four years at Cornell He had three goals and points in games in - before becoming a regular in the lineup this past season Malinski spent majority of the year on the third pairing but he moved up to the second when one of the top-four guys wasn t available The Avs now have million in cap space available with forwards five defensemen and two goalies signed to one-way contracts One of those forwards Logan O Connor is expected to miss the start of the - campaign after offseason hip surgery Colorado was short on cap space until the Avalanche traded Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday a move that cleared million in space for this upcoming season and million in each of the following three years Related Articles Colorado Avalanche reveals expansion camp roster with Sean Behrens set to return to ice Avalanche Journal After years in cap purgatory Colorado has clarity to be person in NHL free agency Avalanche NHL draft tracker Avs take UMass defenseman in third round Avalanche trades Charlie Coyle Miles Wood to Columbus for two picks intriguing prospect Avalanche prospect pool might be the weakest in the NHL after years of trades Want more Avalanche news Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis