Sam Malinski

Sam Malinski

27-Year-Old DefensemanD
Colorado Avalanche
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Malinski emerged as a solid depth defender for the Avalanche in 2024-25 while compiling five goals, 15 points, 115 shots on net and 107 blocked shots in 76 regular-season outings. He added one assist, nine shots, four blocks and seven hits in five playoff appearances. Following some extended scoring slumps, Malinski displayed flashes of potential down the stretch. However, those offensive struggles and a challenging path for advancement on a defensive corps that has plenty of fantasy options limit his appeal going into 2025-26. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a four-year, $19 million contract extension with the Avalanche in January of 2026.
Lands four-year extension
DColorado Avalanche
January 27, 2026
Malinski signed a four-year, $19 million contract extension with Colorado on Tuesday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
ANALYSIS
Malinski has three goals, 24 points, 98 shots on net and 56 blocked shots across 50 appearances this season. He has played up and down the lineup in 2025-26, but he has been skating on the top pairing with Cale Makar due to the absence of Devon Toews (upper body).
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NHL Stats
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2025 NHL Game Log
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2023
2025 NHL Game Log
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2024 NHL Game Log
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2023 NHL Game Log
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2025–26 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    16:43
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:08
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    0:40
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2023–24
14:14
0:28
0:03
2024–25
15:57
0:15
0:18
2025–26
16:43
0:08
0:40
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Sam Malinski See More
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Sam Malinski See More
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Malinski took on a larger role for the Avalanche last season than anyone would have guessed, appearing in 23 games and posting 10 points. Yet by the time the postseason rolled around he was predictably sent to the press box. A former four-year standout at Cornell, the 26-year-old Minnesota native seems highly unlikely to earn a full-time role this year given the club signed Erik Brannstrom in free agency to serve as their third-pairing righty defenseman behind superstar Cale Makar and veteran Josh Manson. The best Malinski can likely hope for is to win the No. 7 role.
More Fantasy News
Distributes trio of helpers
DColorado Avalanche
December 27, 2025
Malinski notched three assists, three shots on goal and a plus-3 rating in Saturday's 6-5 shootout win over the Golden Knights.
ANALYSIS
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Goal, assist in win
DColorado Avalanche
December 11, 2025
Malinski scored a goal on three shots, dished an assist, went plus-2 and blocked two shots in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Panthers.
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Puts away goal in Wednesday's win
DColorado Avalanche
November 27, 2025
Malinski scored a goal on two shots in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Sharks.
ANALYSIS
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Pockets helper in win
DColorado Avalanche
November 4, 2025
Malinski registered an assist in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Lightning.
ANALYSIS
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Nets goal in 100th career game
DColorado Avalanche
October 7, 2025
Malinski scored a goal in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Kings.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Projected to stay in lineup
DColorado Avalanche
December 7, 2023
Malinski is projected to remain in the lineup Thursday versus Winnipeg despite Cale Makar and Bowen Byram both being available after dealing with injuries, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Malinski is penciled in to play on the third pairing with Jack Johnson while Caleb Jones is likely to serve as a healthy scratch. Malinski has no points, two shots, two hits and six blocks in three contests with the Avalanche in 2023-24. The 25-year-old rookie has also recorded three goals and nine points in 17 appearances with AHL Colorado this year.
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