The Colorado Avalanche might not have a better defense corps in 2024-25, but it could be deeper. Erik Brannstrom, once one of the top prospects in the sport, is the latest depth addition. He and the Avs agreed to a one-year, $900,000 contract Tuesday morning. Brannstrom, who will be 25 in September, was one of the top defense prospects in the 2017 draft after Cale Makar and Miro Heiskanen and was pick No.