The Colorado Avalanche made a pair of low-profile additions Thursday, signing Vinnie Hinostroza and Domenick Fensore to contracts that shore up both the NHL lineup and the organization’s depth.

Hinostroza arrives on a two-year deal through 2027–28 after another season spent in a familiar NHL role, splitting 2025–26 between Minnesota and Florida and finishing with 18 points (6 goals, 12 assists) in 65 games. Used primarily in bottom-six minutes, the 32-year-old averaged just under 11 minutes per night while continuing to provide energy and situational reliability. His late stint with the Panthers produced eight points in 17 games, reinforcing his value as a plug-in depth forward.

Across 477 career NHL games with seven organizations, Hinostroza has recorded 179 points, with his most productive season coming in 2018–19 when he hit 39 points with Arizona. Since then, his game has settled into a faster, simpler identity built around pace and versatility rather than scoring touch.

Fensore joins on a one-year deal for 2026–27 after a breakout offensive season with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, where he posted 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) in 60 games and led all team defensemen in scoring. The 24-year-old also added six points in 18 Calder Cup Playoff games as Chicago reached the Final, continuing a strong offensive trend at the AHL level with 83 points in 166 career games.

Before turning pro, he captained Boston University and finished his NCAA career with 86 points in 122 games, adding another layer to a profile built around puck movement and offensive instinct from the blue line. Drafted 90th overall by Carolina in 2019, he also brings U.S. NTDP and international experience to the table. 

For Colorado, it’s a day of depth rather than disruption—two additions that don’t change the top of the lineup, but quietly widen what’s underneath it.