The Colorado Eagles are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. There are many reasons the Eagles are important to the overall future of the Colorado hockey system, but they are also crucial in their own right.

History

The organization has a long history of being successful. From their inaugural season in 2003 in the Central Hockey League (CHL), they were a powerhouse. Until their move to the ECHL they had six consecutive seasons of clinching first place in their division.

Their upward trajectory continued with their move to the next league in the 2011–2012 season and lasted until their last season in 2017–2018, when they completed their second consecutive Kelly Cup championship.

Finally, they appeared in the AHL starting in the 2018–2019 season. Since then, they have been vital pieces in the overall success of their partnership with the Avalanche.

Why they matter

The AHL is mainly a place for players to improve their skills before playing in the NHL.

When gaining prospects, Colorado would like to keep them close for last-minute call-ups. From their home at Blue FCU Arena in Loveland, they are a mere 50 miles away from Ball Arena in the heart of Denver. With constant conditioning in the “minor leagues” of hockey, players are consistently developing speed, footwork, and overall game awareness.

Many of the Eagles alumni have found a permanent seat on the Avalanche roster, most recently defenseman Sam Malinski, who was vital part of the the second and third pairings. Logan O’Connor and Joel Kiviranta have also made the move from Loveland. Goaltender Pavel Francouz, a critical piece in the 2022 Stanley Cup run, played a entire year with the Eagles before coming to Denver.

The league’s purpose is not only to facilitate call-ups. The success of the players also becomes a valuable trade asset while the Avalanche are looking to sweeten the deal with trades to strengthen their roster.

Easily one of the most notable events in Eagles history was the two-game conditioning stint by the long-awaited captain, Gabriel Landeskog. The “freeview” of the game attracted a viewing audience nearly six times larger than the seating capacity at Ball Arena.

Not only did the game attract NHL viewership, it also exposed a larger crowd to the unexpected skill presented by the Eagles, who were already on the road to a historic season.

The players are elite

Colorado has maintained a long track record of success, but the 2024–2025 season highlighted the dominance of several players.

Goaltender Trent Miner has had an incredible season, posting one of the highest save percentages in the league at .918 in the regular season. His presence in net has instilled unwavering trust in those playing in front of him, knowing he is a trustworthy last line of defense.

It is hard to ignore defenseman Jacob MacDonald, who claimed an AHL record. He netted an astounding 31 goals, surpassing the previous record of 30 goals by a defenseman. He also won the President’s Award for Player Excellence.

Tye Felhaber also made a notable impact, putting up 44 points (22G, 22A) in his 67 regular season contests. The Avalanche will keep Felhaber through the 2025–2026 season before he becomes an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the season.

What awaits

Colorado picked up several new pieces. After training camp at the end of the summer, they will assign new prospects to the Eagles for conditioning.

It is also possible there will be vacancies on the roster. The Avalanche may elect to keep a deserving player at the NHL level full time.

The Eagles will also play under a new coach. Aaron Schneekloth is moving to Seattle to become the Kraken organization’s new assistant coach, closing his 19-year chapter with Colorado.

Mark Letestu will take his place. He came from the Cleveland Monsters (CBJ) and has posted several successful seasons.