Avalanche select nine players in 2026 NHL Draft, make another trade

The Colorado Avalanche picked nine players in the 2026 NHL Draft on Saturday.

And while none of them will make an immediate impact in a Stanley Cup (or bust) window, it’s always fun to think about the future.

Avalanche GM Joe Sakic traded Valeri Nichushkin on Thursday to the Columbus Blue Jackets and received three draft selections in return, including a second-rounder this year. Sakic used the No. 43 overall pick to take forward Egor Shilov from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s Victoriaville Tigres.

Shilov is an 18-year-old who skated in 63 games for Victoriaville in 2025-26 and registered 82 points (32 goals, 50 assists). He’ll play for them in 2026-27 then is committed to Penn State University the following year.

In the third-round, Colorado went with forward Beckett Hamilton from the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels. The No. 74 overall pick posted 62 points (24 goals / 38 assists) in 67 regular-season games and added five points in five playoff contests. 

Here’s a full-list of the players the Avalanche drafted — including four defenseman, three forwards and two goaltenders:

• Egor Shilov, forward, (No. 43 overall)
• Beckett Hamilton, forward, (No. 74 overall)
• Tobias Tvrznik, goaltender (No. 126 overall)
• Axel Elofsson, defenseman (No. 128 overall)
• Cole Tuminaro, defenseman (No. 140 overall)
• Teddy Lechner, defenseman (No. 152 overall)
• Shawn Carrier, forward (No. 195 overall)
• Ondrej Ruml, defenseman (No. 214 overall)
• Alexandre Raymond, goaltender (No. 215 overall)

Also, the Avalanche made another trade on Saturday afternoon. Ivan Ivan, known for his unique name, is no longer with the organization. He was dealt to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Fabian Lysell from the Boston Bruins.

Lysell, a former-first round pick in 2021, has appeared in 12 career NHL games. He has three points in those contests (one goal, two assists), but has posted 163 career points (57 goals  and 106 assists) in 219 regular-season AHL games.

Ivan skated in 49 games for the Avalanche and recorded nine points and also played in 169 games for the Colorado Eagles. 

While Sakic has been busy with trades this offseason, unloading Nichushkin, Ross Colton and Jack Drury, he now has the draft behind him after returning to the GM chair. Chris MacFarland departed to Nashville earlier this month.

The Avalanche also re-signed two guys on defense in Brett Kulak and Brent Burns. Right now, Colorado has about $5.6 million in salary cap space with free agency slated to begin next week.