Not many NHL players have had the competitiveness and work ethic to play as often as Andrew Cogliano did. He should have a smooth transition to the Avalanche's front office.
It's little surprise that Andrew Cogliano is heading right from the rink to the front office.
The longtime NHL veteran announced his retirement Friday, ending the chapter on his 17-year career in hockey’s top league. He will take on a host of roles with the Colorado Avalanche's front office, including pro and amateur scouting, player development, and working with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.
His work ethic made him stand out from the rest of the pack in the NHL. It takes hard work to become an NHL regular without missing a game, and Cogliano played 830 consecutive games to start his career. His ironman streak is the eighth-longest in NHL history, and he did so without being at the top of the lineup.
That resilience and effort will be the same for him now that he’s part of an Avalanche brain trust that is very pleased to have him sticking around.
“We would like to congratulate Andrew on a fantastic NHL career," Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland said in a team statement. "He is a true pro, a fierce competitor, a great teammate and leader, and a mentor for younger players. He always set the example for the rest of the group with his hard work on and off the ice and his preparation and details. And while we will miss him on the ice, we couldn’t be more excited to have him on board with our organization in this new role.”
The 37-year-old forward appeared in 1,294 regular-season NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche, generating 274 assists and 464 points in that span. Cogliano also won a Stanley Cup with the Avs in 2021-22.
In fact, Cogliano’s Stanley Cup playoff pedigree is another major part of his legacy, as he appeared in 131 career post-season games and amassed 27 assists and 40 points. The Toronto native has carved out a home with the Avs organization in the past three seasons, and he’ll likely make a seamless transition to the management side of things.
Cogliano is no Hockey Hall of Famer, but in nearly two decades at the NHL level, he proved himself a worthy competitor with all the markings of a hockey lifer. Being a terrific teammate, a dogged battler and a high-impact performer can convert well to the management side of the business. His new career will almost assuredly be as lengthy as his playing career was.
The Avalanche are no different than other NHL teams that hire ex-players who exemplify the attributes they want emanating out of the franchise. Clearly, Avs brass, including MacFarland and president of hockey operations Joe Sakic, believe in Cogliano in this new stage of his career.
Cogliano’s legacy will sparkle for years to come, and while it’s always bittersweet when a player retires, Cogliano can take solace in the knowledge he gave it his all and was rewarded by winning the hardest championship there is to win in sports. He’ll always be a Cup champion. Now it’s a matter of going out and doing the legwork to prepare Avs players and set an example in management the way he set an example as an on-ice force.
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