The Colorado Avalanche have inked a two-year deal with center Ivan Ivan, set to commence from the 2024-25 NHL season. The 21-year-old forward, who went undrafted, impressed during a tryout at the Avalanche’s training camp last year. Known for his solid energy on the ice, Ivan posted 12 goals and 27 points in 51 games with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles in his debut North American professional hockey season. Before joining the Avalanche organization, Ivan showcased his skills over three seasons with the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Eagles, notably notching 90 points in the 2022-23 campaign and tallying a total of 75 goals and 177 points in 191 games.

Ivan has represented Czechia in several international competitions, including the 2017 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and the 2022 World Junior Championship, where although he didn’t display significant offensive output, he demonstrated his value as a swift forward with a penchant for aggressive play.

Currently, the Eagles hold the second position in the Pacific Division with 69 points, trailing the Coachella Valley Firebirds by four points. Meanwhile, the Avalanche have been on a hot streak lately, boasting an 8-2-0 record in their last ten games. They sit at second place in the Central Division with 74 points, just two behind Dallas, and have won their last two games.

As per CapFriendly, the Avalanche had $2.229 million in cap space at the NHL Trade Deadline this week. Notably, Gabriel Landeskog and Pavel Francouz are both on long-term injured reserve with a combined cap hit of $9 million, while Valteri Nichushkin is expected to return soon after attending the NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program. The Avalanche have several UFAs approaching free agency this summer, including veterans Jonathan Drouin, Zach Parise, and Andrew Cogliano, but most of the core players are secured with long-term contracts. For the 2024-25 season, the team is projected to have $3.475 million in cap space, with Ivan likely to return to the AHL.