Logan O’Connor is one of the many fan favorites on the Colorado Avalanche. Season-ending hip surgery cut his season short last year. So this season had to be a bounce back year for the former Denver Pioneer.

O’Connor struggled at the beginning of the season as he tried to get his wheels back. With Ross Colton having to be pulled up to the second line and Miles Wood struggling himself, not much was happening for O’Connor. He started to truly define his role as a penalty killer for head coach Jared Bednar, often playing on the third or fourth line.

O’Connor was one of three players on the Avalanche to reach 80 games played for the entire season. Parker Kelly and Cale Makar were the other two on the roster to do so.

The Texas native saw career lows in a lot of categories for the first time since the 2020–21 season. For the first time since that season, O’Connor did not register a short-handed goal in the regular season. He ranks 12th in franchise history with six short-handed goals to his name. He also played the lowest amount of ice time since 2022–23. This season was the first time that O’Connor finished with a minus rating since his rookie season (five games).

O’Connor may not have the numbers to be an elite winger, but you always know when he is on the ice. He is a constant threat defensively. His speed provides a forecheck that Valeri Nichushkin can only match on the Avalanche. Without O’Connor in the bottom-six, Colorado’s defensive power might as well be non-existent. He has always been one of the fine ones to watch when he is on the ice.

The former Colorado Eagle will start a new six-year contract with the Avalanche this upcoming season that will carry a cap hit of $2.5 million per year.