Colorado signs two NCAA free agents

Report of Colorado hosting the Rookie Tournament as well.

With the 2025 NCAA 16-team tournament field set that means a lot of players not participating are free to sign contracts and begin their professional careers. This is prime time for the Colorado Avalanche to do their shopping and find players to add as organizational depth to the Colorado Eagles in the fall and to fill out a rookie tournament roster, more on that below.

As such, a couple players inked NHL deals with Colorado including goaltender Isak Posch and left shot winger Cooper Gay. Both are 23-years old meaning they signed a standard two-year Entry Level Contract beginning in the 2025-26 season. The two players also hail from collegiate programs in Minnesota with Posch from St. Cloud State and Gay an alumn of St. Thomas. Gay is a familiar face to the organization as he attended development camp in 2024 but was not ice due to injury.

The signing news was also followed by a report from the LA Kings insider, Mayors Manor, that the Avalanche will host a portion of the Rookie Faceoff in September welcoming the prospects of Utah and Vegas. Meanwhile, the California teams are expected to play their games in Anaheim.

Apparently Colorado was set to host again for the first time since they hosted the 2016 inaugural tournament but it was determined they don’t have enough facility space for the entire six-team group. Still, thankfully they plan to utilize the new South Suburban Complex and not Family Sports Center. No details on dates, times or how the public can access these games yet but it should fall on the weekend of September 12-15.

Putting on the event is costly and takes a considerable amount of time and team resources. As such, it was decided that the event will be split this year. Colorado will now host the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Hockey Club in a three-team format at South Suburban Sports Complex in Littleton.