On Friday, Devon Toews inked a seven-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche. Financial terms for the deal, commencing next season, were not disclosed.
The 29-year-old defenseman was in the final year of a four-year contract he signed on October 27, 2020, and could have entered unrestricted free agency at the end of the current season.
Toews expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I couldn’t be more excited to remain with the Avalanche and continue to build upon what we’ve accomplished so far. Denver has become home to my family, and we love being a part of this community. I’m excited to get this deal done and focus on our goal of bringing the Stanley Cup back to Colorado.”
Over the past four seasons with the Avalanche, Toews has amassed 139 points (29 goals, 110 assists) in 200 regular-season games. He kicked off the current season with an assist in Colorado’s 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in the season opener.
In the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Toews contributed 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 20 games, a pivotal factor in the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup triumph.
Toews notched 50 points (seven goals, 43 assists) during the previous season, marking his second consecutive year with at least 50 points (57 in 2021-22). He ranked eighth in the NHL for average ice time per game (25:06) and sixth with a plus-39 rating.
Since joining Colorado ahead of the 2020-21 season, Toews has led the NHL with a plus-122 rating. During his tenure with the team, the Avalanche have posted an impressive regular-season record of 139-45-16 (.735).
Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland emphasized the significance of the deal, stating, “Getting a deal done with Devon at the start of the season was a priority for us. He has emerged as one of the best defensemen in the NHL and is a huge part of the core of this team. He logs heavy minutes in all situations, 5-on-5, power play, and penalty kill, plays against the opposition’s top lines and is one of the top point-producing defenders in the game as well. And most importantly, he is one of our team leaders both on and off the ice. We’re thrilled to have him in an Avalanche sweater for the next eight years.”
Originally selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round (No. 108) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Toews has accumulated 185 points (40 goals, 145 assists) in 316 NHL games between the Avalanche and Islanders. He has also contributed 45 points (10 goals, 35 assists) in 67 playoff games.
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