Avalanche sign depth forward from Bruins, Kadri watch remains quiet

The Colorado Avalanche signed forward Anton Blidh to a one-year contract on Wednesday.

This is a depth signing, but Blidh does have NHL experience, appearing in 32 games for the Boston Bruins last year. He registered nine points, tallying two goals and adding seven assists. He was drafted by the Bruins all the way back in 2013 with a sixth-round pick. Blidh’s played in 70 career NHL games with Boston.

But Blidh is pretty much a career minor-leaguer, skating in 278 career American Hockey League outings with Boston’s AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins. He totaled 88 points in those games and produced five points in 25 Calder Cup Playoff contests.

Will we see him on the fourth line this year with the Avs? Perhaps. However, this is this kind of NHL signing you normally hear about in August. Still, there remains an elephant in the room.

What’s up with Nazem Kadri?

Colorado’s second-line center is still a free agent, with rumor after rumor surfacing every day. The latest one has him tied to the New York Islanders, but that was on Sunday, with nothing new coming since.

Are the Avalanche still in the mix for Kadri? You would like to think so. He was instrumental in their Stanley Cup run, with massive signature moments against the Blues and Lightning. The Avs would probably have to trade a guy like Samuel Girard to clear the salary cap space to make it happen, but that’s doable.

Training camps aren’t slated to open until the middle of September, with preseason to follow, so Kadri still has another month to make up his mind. It could happen today, it could happen four weeks from now.

But Kadri will sign a new contract at some point. Let’s hope it’s right back here in Colorado.

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