Avalanche’s Andrew Cogliano retires after 17 seasons, joins front office

Colorado Avalanche forward Andrew Cogliano is hanging up the skates after 17 seasons in the NHL.

The longtime forward had 19 points in 75 games with the Avalanche this past season, and another five assists in 11 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as he played a big part in the team’s penalty kill.

“The game of hockey has given me and my family so much and I am grateful for every moment,” said Cogliano. “I am blessed to have played for so long with some great organizations and amazing teammates. I will miss being with the guys in the dressing room and battling for each other on the ice every night but it’s time to move on. Thank you to everyone I ever played with, played for and all the great fans for all of their support. I am excited to start my new chapter in the front office.”

The 37-year-old will be joining Colorado’s front office, where he will have a hand in player development, professional and amateur scouting, while also working with the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles.

Cogliano was a former first-round pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2005 NHL Draft. He would go on to play in 1,294 career games, where he had 190 goals and 464 points and won a Stanley Cup in 2022 with the Avalanche.

“On behalf of the Avalanche organization, we would like to congratulate Andrew on a fantastic NHL career,” said Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland. “He is a true pro, a fierce competitor, a great teammate and leader, and a mentor for younger players. He always set the example for the rest of the group with his hard work on and off the ice and his preparation and details. And while we will miss him on the ice, we couldn’t be more excited to have him on board with our organization in this new role. He will be an invaluable resource with his unique knowledge of the game and his many years of experience to help the next generation of Avalanche players.”

Cogliano earned a reputation as one of the more durable players in the NHL after opening his career with 830 consecutive games, the fourth-longest ironman streak all-time in the NHL.