What Happened
Colorado announced that defenseman Alex Gagne has been recalled from the AHL's Colorado Eagles. According to PuckPedia, the Avalanche placed blueliner Josh Manson on long-term injured reserve to free up the cap space required to bring Gagne up. Manson is out with an ankle injury that could sideline him for eight weeks. Gagne, 24, has two goals in 14 games with the Eagles this season and has yet to appear in an NHL game despite two brief playoff recalls last season.
Key Details
- Gagne was selected 194th overall by Tampa Bay in 2021 and played at the University of New Hampshire.
- He signed a two-year entry-level contract with Colorado in 2025 and is in the deal's second season.
- With the Eagles last season, Gagne posted 13 points in 58 regular-season games and five points in 17 playoff games.
- Manson's ankle injury could keep him out for eight weeks, per Pro Hockey Rumors.
- Using LTIR means Colorado stops banking in-season cap space for the time being.
- The Avalanche still have two open roster spots available.
What It Means
Manson's absence removes a physical right-shot defender from Colorado's blue line, and the club lacked the cap room to add a replacement without using LTIR. Gagne, who has spent his professional time with the Eagles, provides insurance on the back end and could see his first NHL action after two playoff recalls that did not result in a game. The trade-off is that Colorado pauses its in-season cap accrual.
What's Next
With two roster spots still open and the club now operating in LTIR, another depth call-up in the coming days would not be surprising, according to Pro Hockey Rumors. Manson's recovery timeline will determine how long the arrangement lasts.