Sam Malinski Signs With Avalanche
BISMARCK, N.D.–The Bismarck Bobcats’ rich history of taking hockey players to the next level continued Thursday as defenseman Sam Malinski signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche.
Malinski played 87 games over two seasons as a Bobcat (2017-18 and 2018-19) and took home Central Division Defenseman of the Year honors in 2019. He recorded 15 goals and 55 points as a Bobcat. The Lakeville, Minn. native went on to play collegiately at Cornell, where he earned back-to-back First-Team All-ECAC honors and served as team captain.
With the Avalanche signing Malinski to the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, he will join the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles for the remainder of this year on a professional tryout (PTO) deal.
Other Bobcats who have played at the AHL level include Ryan Faragher (San Diego Gulls) and Hunter Shepard (Hershey Bears), both goaltenders.