The Colorado Avalanche have decided to move winger Fredrik Olofsson to the minors by placing him on waivers. While there doesn’t appear to be a specific reason for this roster move in terms of needing space, it’s probable that it’s to provide the team with more flexibility approaching the trade deadline, especially considering Olofsson’s recent performance. With a 12-game streak without scoring and just one point in his last 23 games, it’s likely that his lack of production is the main factor behind this decision.
Olofsson has seen an improvement in his performance compared to his debut season in 2022-23, having scored 3 goals and provided 6 assists for a total of 9 points in 55 games. These numbers mark career highs for the player from Helsingborg, Sweden, albeit achieved over nearly twice as many games played.
His offensive struggles are particularly evident in his goal-scoring, as he ranks among the lowest in the league in this regard. Since making his debut in the 2022-23 season, he has posted a rate of 0.29 goals per 60 minutes, which is the fourth-worst among forwards with at least 800 minutes of ice time.
Olofsson, originally drafted in the fourth round by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2014 NHL Draft, took a different path by not signing an entry-level contract. Instead, he played two games with their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, on an amateur tryout contract. Following three seasons in Sweden, he joined the Dallas Stars in 2022 through free agency, spending a single season there before his signing rights were traded to the Avalanche in the 2023 offseason in exchange for future considerations.
Currently signed to a one-year deal worth $750,000, Olofsson is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the 2024 offseason.
The Avalanche are currently holding the third position in the Central Division with a record of 35 wins, 18 losses, and 5 overtime losses. After a recent loss to the Detroit Red Wings, they’ll be aiming to rebound when they face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST.
