The Colorado Avalanche have made a roster move, reassigning forward Oskar Olausson to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, as announced by the team on Thursday. Olausson, a first-round pick for the Avalanche in 2021, has encountered challenges adapting to the professional game since concluding his junior career in 2022. His performance in the AHL, totaling 28 points in 83 games dating back to the previous season, has fallen short of expectations.
Despite starting this season in the minors, Olausson was recently called up by the Avalanche and featured in Tuesday’s game against the Ducks. During that contest, he registered two shots on goal and played for 11 minutes and 50 seconds alongside teammates Ross Colton and Mikko Rantanen. However, the promising prospect has yet to fully demonstrate his potential at the professional level, marking a somewhat disappointing transition for the 21-year-old forward.
Olausson, who was once highly regarded by scouts and ranked as high as 13th overall heading into the 2021 draft, was eventually selected in the late-first/early-second-round range. Despite his struggles, there remains optimism that the 6-foot-2, 181-pound winger can develop and fulfill his potential over time.
The Avalanche organization aims to boost Olausson’s confidence by recalling him to the AHL, hoping that the change in environment will jumpstart his performance with the Eagles. Before the recent call-up, Olausson had managed just one assist in his last five AHL games.
Currently in the first season of his entry-level contract, Olausson was slide-eligible for the previous two seasons. With a cap hit of $863,333, he is set to become a restricted free agent in 2026. As Olausson navigates the challenges of the professional ranks, the Avalanche remain optimistic about his future development and contribution to the team.
