Colorado Avalanche's 3 Worst Contracts of 2023-24

The Colorado Avalanche are really without bad contracts on their team this season after doing some shuffling ahead of the deadline, which means we have to get picky for this one. So here are the three worst contracts on the Avalanche this season.

Ross Colton

Ross Colton wasn't able to win the second line center role on the Avalanche at the start of the season, but he shouldn't have been expected to. He has settled into the third line where he will perform best and has done well overall. He may be a little overpaid for a third line player at $4 million AAV though compared to a number of the other players on the team. He plays 14 minutes per game and somehow has a negative +/- on the Avalanche who are very positive. Points is not an issue, but he is signed through 2027.

Miles Wood

I see Miles Wood as somewhat similar to Colton in this regard. He has a cap hit of $2.5 million AAV through 2029. While it isn't a bad or large cap hit, he is lining up on the fourth line. So in terms of his spot in the lineup, the Avalanche didn't have to be paying that much. Wood also hasn't done poorly offensively, but compared to the other depth players who are as effective with less money, this makes the decision to name Wood easier.

Josh Manson

Josh Manson doesn't have a bad contract playing in the top-four, the problem is that he has played 17:37 per game over 64 games. While being paid $4.5 million AAV, he could be doing more, but the right side also has Cale Makar and now Sean Walker, so there isn't a ton of room. Manson kills penalties, but since we're nitpicking, he is overpaid for how much time he actually plays. It shouldn't be a problem at all moving forward with Walker unlikely re-signing and Bowen Byram now traded.