Jonathan Drouin's fate in Colorado appears to be confirmed

While he is currently one of the league's best bargains, earning only $825,000, the 28-year-old Quebecois forward will become a free agent at the end of this campaign. Considering the Avalanche's already hefty salary commitments, it's very likely that they won't be able to offer him a salary commensurate with his on-ice performance.

Given that players like Casey Mittelstadt and Sean Walker may see significant salary increases, and Devon Toews' contract extension will kick in for the 2024-2025 season, the possibility of the Sainte-Agathe native leaving Colorado to sign with a new team seems quite real.

Moreover, the organization will only have six forwards, four defensemen, and one goaltender under contract for next season, with only $11.325 million available under the salary cap.

This means there will be many gaps to fill in head coach Jared Bednar's lineup, and it seems virtually impossible for Drouin to secure a reasonable deal with his recent performances without compromising the rest of the team.

Additionally, the team's beat reporter, Evan Rawal, recently mentioned that it will be difficult for the organization to retain the forward, who will deserve a significant pay raise.

Unless Drouin accepts a more modest deal, such as a $1.5 million salary for two years, his departure from Colorado this summer is more than likely.

We sincerely hope that either the Avalanche or Jonathan manages to work something out to continue this partnership, as it's truly enjoyable to watch him thrive there. It would be a shame to see him leave after just one year due to a salary dispute.