DENVER — Tristen Nielsen has been recalled by the Colorado Avalanche ahead of Thursday night’s matchup against the New York Rangers, the team announced.
Nielsen was previously called up ahead of the November 4 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, which the Avalanche won 3-2, marking his NHL debut. He skated eight shifts and logged 5 minutes and 25 seconds of ice time.
The 25‑year‑old forward has appeared in 16 games this season with the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, recording nine goals and five assists for 14 points.
Why Nielsen Was Recalled
The recall comes as the Avalanche continue to manage a lower-body injury sustained by Valeri Nichushkin. He left the ice during the third period of Colorado’s 8-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on November 11 after blocking a shot. Head coach Jared Bednar later confirmed that Nichushkin would be sidelined on a week-to-week basis. While the injury is not considered severe, it is significant enough to keep him out of action. Nichushkin resumed skating on Wednesday in a non-contact sweater.
With Gavin Brindley moving up to the second line to fill Nichushkin’s role and Logan O’Connor not yet ready to return, the Avalanche are likely to continue cycling players from the AHL for the foreseeable future.
The most recent AHL call-up was Taylor Makar, younger brother of Cale Makar, who has appeared in three NHL games this season and has made a notably strong impression.
A native of Fort St. John, British Columbia, Nielsen played a key role in the Abbotsford Canucks’ 2025 Calder Cup championship. During the 2024-25 season, he recorded 28 points in 67 regular-season games and added nine points across 24 playoff contests, both career highs for postseason production. His five playoff goals ranked tied for fifth on the Abbotsford roster.
The 5-foot-10, 192-pound forward has steadily built his professional resume since turning pro prior to the 2021-22 season. He spent four seasons with Abbotsford before joining the Avalanche organization, compiling 122 points (55 goals, 67 assists) in 238 AHL regular-season games and contributing 17 points in 36 Calder Cup playoff appearances. Nielsen signed an entry-level contract with Vancouver in 2023 after posting a career-high 41 points in 64 AHL games the previous season and has reached double-digit goals in each of his last four campaigns.
Before turning professional, Nielsen spent six seasons in the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen and Vancouver Giants, tallying 175 points in 241 games. He served as an alternate captain for Vancouver in 2020-21 and finished tied for eighth in league scoring during the COVID-shortened season. Nielsen also appeared in 26 WHL playoff games and skated alongside current Avalanche goaltender Trent Miner from 2018 to 2021.
The Game
The Avalanche (13-1-5) take on the New York Rangers (10-9-2) Thursday evening at Ball Arena to conclude a four-game homestand. Coverage kicks off at 7 p.m. local time.
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