DENVER — Gavin Brindley was rewarded with a two-year contract extension less than 48 hours after scoring his first NHL overtime winner.

“Pretty funny how that works,” the Colorado Avalanche rookie forward cracked Tuesday before their game against Anaheim. “But yeah, very fortunate. Happy that they believed in me.”

Brindley’s new deal will be worth $850,000 next season if he plays in the NHL and $900,000 no matter what level he suits up at in 2027-28, according to a person familiar with the move. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms were not disclosed.

The 5-foot-8, 173-pound Brindley was acquired by Colorado on June 27 as part of a deal that sent Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to Columbus. Brindley made an immediate impression in Colorado’s training camp with his persistence and grit, leading to a spot on the opening-day roster.

He has three goals this season, including the OT winner at Vancouver on Sunday when he knocked in his own rebound. The 21-year-old from Florida became the seventh-youngest player in franchise history to notch an OT-winning goal.

“I think he can be a top-six forward,” said Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, who currently has Brindley on the fourth line. “He plays bigger than his size. The motor, the relentlessness, the skill level, and the brain to go with it, is all there.”

His deal was still so new that even his linemate, Parker Kelly, hadn’t heard about it. Once Brindley came off the ice following the morning skate, Kelly congratulated him.

“Super happy for him,” Kelly said. “He deserved it. He came into camp, did really well, made his presence known. He’s been playing the right way and has great details to his game.”

A 2023 second-round pick by the Blue Jackets, Brindley signed an entry-level deal in April 2024 after playing for the University of Michigan. He made his NHL debut with the Blue Jackets on April 16, 2024, against Carolina.

Brindley spent last season with Columbus’ AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, where he had six goals and 11 assists in 52 games.

He’s thrived in his role since the trade.

“Honestly, I really didn’t know what to think,” Brindley said when asked if he viewed being dealt to Colorado as a fresh start. “A lot of different emotions. I feel like positives and negatives, getting traded that young, and going through it. I feel like it’s good to go through it early and experience that and experience the downs of last year. Just learn from it and get better and grow.”

TORONTO — The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are less than 90 days away in Italy, and there is still work to be done on the ice surfaces that will showcase NHL players suiting up at their first Games in a decade.

The league hasn’t allowed its skaters to participate at the Olympics since 2014 in Sochi. Now that they are on the cusp of returning, there are serious questions about the quality of ice both men and women players will be working with in February.

“There’s still work ongoing on the rinks and the ice conditions,” confirmed NHL commissioner Gary Bettman at the NHL GM meetings on Tuesday. “It’s something that we’re monitoring closely, and we have absolutely no control over. This is all on the [International Olympic Committee] and the [International Ice Hockey Federation].”

Bettman said the league is getting “constant reassurances” from the IOC and IIHF that “everything will be fine” with the rinks by the time athletes arrive overseas. At this point, the main hockey rink — Santagiulia Arena — is still under construction. The venue was meant to undergo testing for Olympic events in December, with a U-20 world championship tournament. But that’s now been moved to another rink — the Rho Fiera — that will host secondary hockey matches during the Games.

Those building delays could mean that no games will actually be played at Santagiulia Arena until the women’s hockey schedule officially opens Feb. 5 with an untested ice surface. Beyond just being a safety issue for players, there’s also a question of testing things such as bathrooms and concessions for fans in a newly constructed space.

While the NHL can’t do much to expedite the construction process, they are staying actively involved in what’s going on. When the league’s current Global Series showcase in Sweden between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators wraps up this weekend, NHL executives will make a pilgrimage to Milano-Cortina to check the status of rink construction for themselves.

What they find there remains to be seen. All Bettman can reiterate is that it’s out of the NHL’s hands.

“We’re simply invited guests,” Bettman said.

ST. LOUIS — Jordan Binnington set a franchise record for St. Louis on Tuesday night, and he is looking forward to having a little fun with the milestone.

The 32-year-old Binnington played in his 348th game in a 3-2 win over Calgary, passing Mike Liut for most games played by a goaltender in franchise history.

Liut, who spent five-plus seasons with the Blues before he was traded to Hartford in February 1985, is Binnington’s agent. The new record holder plans to let Liut know who’s on top now.

“Maybe I’ll send him a text tonight just for fun,” Binnington said. “It’s cool how it’s working out like this. He’s a big legend here and he’s in the Blues Hall of Fame.

“He’s someone I look up to and he’s been a big part of my career. It’s cool how life works like that.”

Binnington, a third-round pick in the 2011 draft, has spent his entire career with St. Louis. He became the franchise wins leader with his 152nd victory in 2024, also passing Liut.

“I’m truly honored and humbled,” Binnington said. “We’ve had some good teams here and some good players. I just keep my head down and doing my best.

“It’s cool moments like these to have a night like this where we got a nice win, a much-needed win. We played a good game. It’s special.”

Binnington, who led St. Louis to the franchise’s only Stanley Cup championship in 2019, registered 38 saves in the victory over the Flames. It was his fourth win in 12 games this season.

It was a much different outcome than his previous start.

Binnington was pulled in the second period of last week’s 6-1 loss at Washington. He surrendered four goals on 15 shots, including Alex Ovechkin’s 900th career goal.

“I’m having fun,” Binnington said. “You’ve got to play for the love of the game and why you started. I enjoy these moments, trying to close out a game here at home. I felt the crowd. It’s good to enjoy these moments.”

The Blues held a 3-0 lead before Calgary scored two goals in 29 seconds in the second period.

Calgary peppered Binnington with 31 shots in the last two periods.

“As a goalie, sometimes you like that. You stay in the game,” Binnington said. “Giving up two late in the second was not what we were looking for.

“We regrouped and we found a way to get it done. It was fun game back and forth. I think it’s only going to get better.”