Avalanche miss out on Toews, re-sign two forwards from AHL Eagles

The Jonathan Toews sweepstakes have been heating up in recent days, as it was reported multiple times that the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets were the two teams that the three-time Stanley Cup champion were mulling over to make his return to the NHL with. However, Toews made the decision to go with the Winnipeg Jets, his hometown team, on Friday over the Avalanche.

Jumping back in. 🛩️

The @NHLJets have announced that Jonathan Toews will be joining the team! pic.twitter.com/5KqrawufZc

— NHL (@NHL) June 20, 2025

The Toews signing, while it would’ve been fun, would’ve been difficult to pull off for a Colorado team that has the worst salary cap situation in the entire NHL to kick off the summer. Also, the Avs have a reliable center on all four lines now after they locked up Brock Nelson with a 3-year contract recently, meaning that either Charlie Coyle or Jack Drury would’ve needed to be traded to make a spot for the 2010 Conn Smythe winner.

In turn, the Avalanche turned around a re-signed two players from the AHL affiliate Colorado Eagles who have been with the organization for a couple of years in Jason Polin and Matt Steinburg. Polin has spent the last two years in Colorado and played in nine games with the Avalanche, while Steinburg has been in town for three years, appearing in eight NHL contests.

We've signed Jason Polin to a one-year contract through the 2025-26 season ✍️ pic.twitter.com/z1qFI4M4vb

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 20, 2025

Another one!

We've signed Matthew Stienburg to a one-year contract. pic.twitter.com/GfCLnPq3a2

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 20, 2025

Availability has been an issue for the two young forwards, as Polin played in 39 games for the Eagles in the regular season while Steinburg played in only five.

Polin, 26, was the NCHC Player of the Year in 2023, his final year of college hockey with Western Michigan. He is the only player in school history to win the award in its 12-year history.

Steinburg, 24, has deep ties with the Avalanche organization, as his father, Trevor, was drafted 15th overall by the Quebec Nordiques back in 1974. He also was ejected from one of his few games he played with the Avalanche back in October due to a nasty hit on Tampa Bay’s Erik Cernak.

Nonetheless, the Avalanche signed a center, but not the high-profile one that fans wanted to see in a move that doesn’t move the needle. For the team who is one of the odds-on favorites to win the 2026 Stanley Cup, the Avalanche need to do everything they can to maximize the franchise’s championship window with Nathan MacKinnon leading the charge.

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