After life-changing summer, Avalanche glue guy Parker Kelly is ready for new expectations

It would be tough for an NHL contestant to have a better July than the one Parker Kelly just experienced The month began with a career-affirming contract and ended with his wedding For the Kellys their time in Colorado is just getting started It was a fun summer Kelly mentioned We had lots of other weddings to go to as well We re kind of getting into that age where everyone is getting married so we were pretty busy Kelly signed a two-year contract on July with the Avalanche At the time he was a relatively unknown -year-old forward who had just set career bests in goals points and games played with the Ottawa Senators Fast forward days and the Avs had several players entering the final year of their contracts who were eligible for extensions Kelly was the first to sign inking a four-year pact worth million per year more than double what he made his first season with the club He s now under contract for five more seasons in Colorado and is one of six players on the roster signed through at least Easy Avs coach Jared Bednar revealed when urged what made Kelly a participant the organization craved to commit four more years to Just watching him operate every day He s a committed guy Love his skating We have the flexibility with him to be able to play middle or the wing Just a highly competitive guy that wants to win and his details are really good Kind of fits the mold of what we ve had in our thriving third and fourth lines in the past So he s easily identifiable as a guy that we can move forward with Kelly finished his first season in Denver with eight goals and points over games almost identical numbers from the previous year in Ottawa He became a trusted glue guy for the Avs starting the year at center for the first time in his professional career and then settling in as the wing on Bednar s new identity line next to Jack Drury and Logan O Connor For all of the star power this franchise possesses it s not a coincidence that O Connor and Kelly are two of those six Avs with contracts that reach the next decade I was on the golf unit with my dad Kelly revealed We were just like What This is crazy But now there s expectations with this contract too I m ready to take that stride and live up to those expectations There s also responsibility too They put their trust in me and now I ve got to return the favor I ve got to show that on the ice and off the ice Playing center was new for Kelly last year just like it was for Ross Colton the season before The Avs needed both to make the move out of necessity This season Bednar would like to keep both players on the wing Drury was the club s No center after arriving in January and the Avs would like him to prove he can center the third line They also have three young players Zakhar Bardakov Ivan Ivan and Nikita Prishchepov who could emerge as the C Related Articles Avalanche defenseman Keaton Middleton s NHL dreams certainly came through but his identity is unchanged I know who I am Avalanche power play loaded with talent but also pressure to regain elite form Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog s full-time return off to strong start He looks great How to watch Nuggets Avalanche games for free over-the-air this season At years old Brent Burns is still the most of engaging man in the NHL Look at Kelly s analytics look at his battle in Ottawa one of his major strengths is how effective he is on the forecheck Bednar explained He played center for us for half the season then we got Drury We moved him to the wing and forthwith you saw the impact he could make on the forecheck and just how good that line was So I don t want to take away that strength to put him in the middle For Kelly the burden of playing in a contract year the wondering and worrying about the future has been lifted After three years of trying to force his way into the NHL and two in Ottawa trying to carve out a role he s ascertained a home It was a lot of fun to go through that process Kelly declared Happy to stay here and get selected insurance It was a great day and we celebrated with lots of friends and family It was awesome It s a great city to live in My wife and I love it here It s a direct flight from Edmonton There s no layover in Toronto which is nice It s an easy flight for family to come down and see us Want more Avalanche news Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis