On July 15th, 2021, the Colorado Avalanche acquired Mikhail Maltsev and a 2nd round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft (Sean Behrens) from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Ryan Graves. 

With the Colorado Avalanche, Ryan Graves played 149 games and scored 14 goals and 32 assists for 46 points. Graves would be traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins just two seasons later, playing 153 games and scoring 14 goals and 40 assists for 54 points with the Devils.

Maltsev only played 23 games with the Avalanche and didn't manage to record a point.

The second-round pick was #61 and was used to draft defenseman Sean Behrens out of the NTDP U.S. National Team. He would play three seasons at the University of Denver, playing 112 games and scoring 10 goals and 71 assists for 81 points.

Last season, after recovering from ACL surgery that sidelined him for the 2025-25 season with the Colorado Eagles, he finished with 5 goals and 18 assists for 23 points. In 15 Calder Cup Playoff games, he scored one goal and four assists for five points.