Georgii Merkulov
Merkulov is a longshot bottom-six forward option in Colorado who signed a one-year, $850,000 deal on July 20, 2026 and is fighting for a roster spot out of training camp, having produced almost nothing in his NHL time to date.
Role
Per NHL.com's July 20, 2026 signing announcement, Merkulov has just 11 career NHL games (all with Boston, 2023-26) and one point, an assist, while piling up AHL production (61 points in 70 games for Providence last season). As of the Yahoo Sports/SI.com roster-cuts report dated around September 23-24, 2026, he was still on Colorado's preseason roster and had scored a goal in the Avalanche's exhibition games (Colorado beat Utah 4-1 on September 20, then lost to Winnipeg 3-1 on September 21, with another preseason game against Winnipeg on September 25). No line combination, power-play unit, or specific linemates for Merkulov were found in current reporting.
He scored in the preseason and has been mentioned alongside regulars like Cale Makar and Gavin Brindley in the same roster-moves report as producing offense in exhibition play, suggesting the Avalanche coaching staff has given him a real look at camp rather than treating him as a pure filler body.
He has almost no NHL track record, just 11 games and a single assist over three seasons in Boston's organization, and the reassignment wave already in progress (several forwards sent to the AHL's Colorado Eagles in the days before September 23-24) makes it plausible he ends up down there too once the roster is finalized.
Where analysts split
No analyst debate specifically about Merkulov's role or fantasy value was found; the open question in the reporting is simply whether he makes Colorado's opening-night NHL roster or is assigned to the AHL Colorado Eagles, and current coverage had not resolved that as of the most recent search.
Research confidence: thin. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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