Colorado Avalanche
· 2026-07-14
The Colorado Avalanche have officially signed Fabian Lysell to a one-year contract for the 2026-27 season, giving the 23-year-old Swedish winger a fresh chance to prove himself in the NHL. The move follows his trade from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ivan Ivan, with financial details still undisclosed.
Lysell’s arrival fits Colorado’s recent pattern of turning underperforming prospects into key contributors. Andre Burakovsky and Valeri Nichushkin both thrived after being reworked in Denver, and now Lysell joins a team that’s 55-16 and leading the Western Conference on a three-game win streak.
The Bruins, meanwhile, acknowledged their failure to integrate Lysell into the lineup. General manager Don Sweeney admitted the relationship fell short, saying, “He hasn’t fully grasped what it requires to play each night. We took ownership that we could have done more.”
Drafted 21st overall by Boston in 2021, Lysell has struggled to crack the NHL despite flashes of elite skill. His 12 career games (one goal, two assists) and multiple AHL seasons with Providence haven’t translated into a full-time role.
Last season, he scored 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) in 57 games, helping Providence win the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy. But his production dipped to 34 points in 52 games the year before, raising questions about whether he needed a change of scenery—or simply more opportunity.
The Avalanche are betting on Lysell’s offensive ceiling: elite skating, creativity, and instincts that made him a top prospect. His 62-point WHL season with Vancouver Giants (22 goals, 40 assists) and 50-point AHL campaign in 2023-24 show the tools are there.
Now, with a Stanley Cup-winning culture and a roster built on reclamation projects, Lysell has a clear path to redemption—or another trade if it doesn’t work out.