EDMONTON — After a breakout year, Parker Kelly is focused on pushing his game further with the Colorado Avalanche, using last spring’s abrupt finish as fuel.
The 27-year-old forward produced 35 points (21 goals, 14 assists) in 82 games last season, all NHL career highs, despite spending most of his time in a bottom-six checking role. It was a significant jump from his 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 80 games in 2024-25, his first season with Colorado. Kelly said the surge came from steady work with the coaching staff and from learning details such as puck entries and protection from the Avalanche’s high-end forwards.
Looking Ahead to the New Season
Colorado finished 55-16-11 to win the Presidents’ Trophy and entered the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs as a leading favorite. The Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings in the first round and eliminated the Minnesota Wild in five games before being swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. Kelly described the series as turning quickly, noted the Golden Knights’ form, and said injuries compounded Colorado’s problems. He added that the long offseason provided time to absorb those lessons, and he believes a largely intact core and roster upgrades position the team for another run.
Kelly is heading into the first season of a four-year contract he signed on July 1, 2025. He aims to contribute at both ends of the ice again, providing depth scoring and a reliable 200-foot game. Training camp opens Sept. 16, and he emphasized building momentum daily with an eye on a healthier, longer postseason.
Undrafted, Kelly signed with the Ottawa Senators as a free agent in September 2017 and played parts of four NHL seasons there, including 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 80 games in 2023-24. He then joined Colorado on a two-year deal and performed well enough to earn his current contract. He credits the Avalanche environment — from the coaching staff to veteran stars — for accelerating his development.
With Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and defensemen Cale Makar and Devon Toews leading the way, Colorado is again projected to contend for the Stanley Cup. The forward group also features Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, and Artturi Lehkonen. Kelly discussed his goals for the season after a session Tuesday at the Perry Pearn 3-on-3 Hockey Camp in Edmonton.