The Colorado Avalanche and defenseman Sam Malinski have agreed to a four-year contract extension. In late June, Malinski had signed a one-year contract to avoid arbitration. This contract will take him through the 2029–30 season, according to the press release. Reports have the contract valued at $4.75 million AAV. For years one and two, Malinski enjoys full trade immunity, followed by a ten-team trade no-movement clause in year three. The list will drop to six teams in year four of the contract.

This season

Malinski has been nothing but stellar this season as he competes in his second full season in the NHL. Malinski has more than doubled his career assist high, reaching 21 in just 50 games. He is two goals short of his career high of five, with 32 games to go in the season. He has become the dynamic defenseman that everyone expected him to be. Malinski has stayed cool under pressure and worked his way up to first-pair minutes in the absence of Devon Toews.

History

The Minnesota native was undrafted out of Cornell University, where he spent four years. He was the team’s captain in his senior year and also roommates with fellow Avalanche forward Matt Stienburg. Coming out of college, Malinski was one of the top undrafted defensemen waiting to be signed. With the help of Stienburg, Malinski signed with the Avalanche and started his career with the Colorado Eagles.

The Eagles wasted no time putting Malinski in front of live fire. He played seven games, scoring three goals and two assists. The next season the former captain split between the Avs and the Eagles. He spent most of his time with the Eagles, playing 46 AHL games. But Malinski tallied 23 NHL games with the Avalanche in his first season as a professional. Last year, Malinski never saw the minors as he played 76 games with the Avs and racked up five goals and 10 assists.

This signing provides security for the Avalanche’s middle pairing, or potentially its bottom pairing, over the next four years. Malinski may not have been what fans thought he was going to be at the start of the season, but he has exceeded expectations since then. With the help of veteran Brent Burns, Malinski’s potential has just gone through the roof.