The Colorado Avalanche signed forward Parker Kelly to a four-year, $1.7 million AAV extension, which kicks in during the 2026-27 season on July 1, 2025. Since Kelly isn’t necessarily a household name, his cap hit and salary aren’t that high, therefore making him a very cost-efficient piece to the roster.
While that is the case, the 26-year-old paid the Avalanche and general manager Chris MacFarland the ultimate compliment.
“If there was an option to sign for 10 years, I would have done that… Everyone has made me better here. Probably the best thing that happened to me is coming here, to be honest”
Avalanche forward Parker Kelly
Whew, you have to feel very good if you are MacFarland and head coach Jared Bednar. Kelly signed with the Avalanche as a free agent in 2024, exactly one year prior to signing the extension. He proved to be a reliable asset on the team’s bottom-six, scoring eight goals and 11 assists in 80 games during the 2024-25 season, and then 12 goals and nine assists through 55 games this season. He is not a player who will score for you every single night, but he had a five-goal January, which isn’t terrible.
As a third-line player, you are trying to fight for the puck, check opposing players and wear them down. Kelly has registered 121 hits through 55 games this year, according to StatMuse.com. That’s some solid production. He’s got just 30 giveaways this season, not even close to the most giveaways on the team, which is good news.
In January, Bednar had some great things to say about Kelly:
““I like what he’s been doing. And it’s harder when you don’t just have a set line …,” Bednar said. “This is the second time now we’ve had him in the middle of the ice. I like him in both positions. I’ve really liked him on the wing. But I feel like he’s done a better job now this year of maintaining some of the strengths of his game as a winger, now that he’s back at center. It’s not easy to go back and forth, sometimes even within the game, using him in both spots. I’m really impressed with what he’s done for us this year.”
Jared Bednar on Parker Kelly
When you have a player that can play well in different spots, you utilize him as many ways as you can. It’s incredible that Kelly, who went undrafted in the 2017 NHL Draft, has earned the trust of his head coach, and general manager, to give him a multi-year extension. Maybe going forward, Kelly will be able to strengthen his game and earn a bigger paycheck.
For now, though, the Avalanche have a solid player on a steal of a deal.
