The Colorado Avalanche have signed pending UFA center Brock Nelson to a three-year extension worth $22.5MM, with a $7.5MM cap hit, following his acquisition from the New York Islanders. This deal secures Nelson, 33, as a second-line center after a season of 26 goals and 56 points, while preventing the potential loss of a valuable asset after a first-round playoff exit. The contract will serve as a benchmark for other pending UFA centers, and is notably higher than the $7MM AAV projected for Nelson on the open market.
