On July 1, 2025, forward Parker Kelly signed a four-year, $1. 7 million AAV extension with the Colorado Avalanche that will take effect in the 2026–27 season. Because Kelly isn’t always a household name, his cap hit and salary aren’t particularly large, which means that he’s a very cost-effective addition to the squad.
Even so, the 26-year-old gave the Avalanche and its general manager, Chris MacFarland, the greatest praise possible.
“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
As MacFarland and head coach Jared Bednar, you must be feeling fantastic. In 2024, just a year before signing the extension, Kelly joined the Avalanche as a free agency. In 80 games during the 2024–25 season, he scored eight goals and eleven assists, demonstrating that he was a valuable addition to the team’s bottom-six. This season, he has 12 goals and nine assists in 55 games. Although he won’t score for you every night, he had a five-goal January, which isn’t awful.
You’re attempting to fight for the puck, check opposing players, and wear them down as a third-line player. According to StatMuse. com, Kelly has 121 hits in 55 games this season. This is a really well made product. The fact that he only has 30 giveaways this season, which is far from the team’s highest number, is a positive thing.
In January, Bednar praised Kelly highly.
““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
A player who can play in a variety of positions is used in as many ways as possible. It’s amazing that Kelly, who wasn’t selected in the 2017 NHL Draft, has gained the confidence of his head coach and general manager to grant him a multi-year contract. Kelly may improve his game and make more money in the future.
But for the time being, the Avalanche have a good player at a fantastic price.
