Avalanche Land New ECHL Affiliate Starting In 2026-27

The Avalanche will partner with the ECHL's New Mexico Goatheads after an eight-year affiliation with the Utah Grizzlies.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Colorado Avalanche have announced a new ECHL affiliate partnership with the New Mexico Goatheads, starting in the 2026-27 season. This comes after an eight-year affiliation with the Utah Grizzlies, who recently announced they are relocating to New Jersey.

Why it matters

The Avalanche have emphasized building strong relationships with their minor league affiliates as part of their franchise development under Joe Sakic's leadership. This new partnership with the Goatheads will provide additional player development opportunities for the Avalanche organization.

The details

The Avalanche have spent years focusing on building strong relationships with their affiliate teams, often sending players to affiliations farther from Colorado, such as Cleveland and San Antonio. In 2018-19, the Colorado Eagles franchise elevated from the ECHL to the AHL and became the Avalanche's main affiliate, the same year Utah joined the ECHL as an affiliate of the Eagles.

  • The Avalanche's new affiliation with the New Mexico Goatheads will begin in the 2026-27 season.
  • The Avalanche have had an eight-year affiliation with the Utah Grizzlies, which will end after the 2025-26 season.

The players

Joe Sakic

The Avalanche's leadership under Joe Sakic has made building strong relationships with minor league affiliates a focal point of their franchise development.

New Mexico Goatheads

The ECHL's newest team, which will become the Avalanche's new ECHL affiliate starting in the 2026-27 season.

Utah Grizzlies

The Avalanche's ECHL affiliate for the past eight years, who recently announced they are relocating to New Jersey.

Colorado Eagles

The Avalanche's current AHL affiliate, which elevated from the ECHL in 2018-19 and became the Avalanche's main affiliate.

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The takeaway

The Avalanche's new partnership with the New Mexico Goatheads demonstrates their continued commitment to building strong relationships with their minor league affiliates, which has been a key part of their franchise development under Joe Sakic's leadership.