Devon Toews signs seven-year extension with Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche have signed defenseman Devon Toews to a seven-year extension on Friday.

According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, Toews’s AAV will be $7.25 million.

The 29-year-old was set to become one of the biggest unrestricted free agents last summer, sitting on the final year of his $4.1 million cap hit. Toews has spent the past three years with the Avalanche, tallying a career-best 57 points in 66 regular season games in 2021-22. He had another 15 points that season en route to his first Stanley Cup title win, helping to cement himself as one of the most valuable players on the team’s core.

Last year, Toews had seven goals and 50 points with Colorado, putting up decent numbers in Cale Makar’s absence. Already this year, Toews has one assist in a 5-2 win over Los Angeles in the team’s season opener, registering 24:00 of ice time.

Through 316 NHL games, Toews has 40 goals and 185 points. He also has 86 points in 130 games, all with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers from 2016-19. Drafted in the fourth round in 2014, Toews is a solid two-way defenseman with a mid-sized 6-foot-1 build. He spent three years with Quinnipiac University from 2013-16, winning the ECAC title in his final year.

The Avalanche have no cap space available right now with a full roster, but Toews’ deal won’t kick in until 2024-25. Most of the core is signed long-term, including Nathan MacKinnon ($12.6 million until 2031), Valeri Nichushkin ($6.125 million until 2030), Cale Makar ($9 million until 2027) and Samuel Girard ($5 million until 2028. Notable UFAs this summer include recent recruits Tomas Tatar and Jonathan Drouin, as well as backup goaltenders Justus Annunen and Pavel Francouz.

The Avalanche will remain on the road for a 10:00 PM ET start against San Jose on Saturday evening. They’ll then travel to Seattle on Tuesday, with the team finally returning back to Denver for a Nov. 1 home opener.