From Calder Cup Champion to Colorado Standout: Tristen Nielsen’s Next Step
By Christian Moreno
Jan 20, 2026
Colorado Eagles forward Tristen Nielsen has had a rapid start to the 2025-26 season, notching 18 points through his first 20 games for the Eagles. Despite it being his first year as a member of the Eagles, he has been a large part of the team's early-season success.
Nielsen signed a two-year, two-way contract as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks after his successful junior career with the Calgary Hitmen and Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. During his junior career, he posted a total of 175 points in 241 games, accumulating 82 goals and 93 assists.
The Fort. St. John, British Columbia, Canada, native is in his fifth year of professional hockey, with his first four seasons spent as a part of the Abbotsford Canucks, where he was among the team leaders in points in each of his last three seasons.
Nielsen looks to bring a championship-winning pedigree to Colorado as he won the Calder Cup in the 2024-25 season with Abbotsford, where he had nine points in 24 playoff games.
"The details on every shift matter in the playoffs, especially when you get more into the later rounds. Teams capitalize on those opportunities; it's an experience where you watch, and usually when there's a mistake, it ends up in the back of your net." Nielsen said.
On August 1st, the Colorado Eagles signed Nielsen as a free agent to a one-year contract. However, as Nielsen attended the Colorado Avalanche's training camp, he made a lasting impression on the staff, as he would later sign a two-year contract with the Avalanche.
On November 4th, Nielsen received the call he had wanted his whole life and played in his first career NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. His stellar play for the Eagles has caught the attention of the Avalanche management, as he has since played four games at the NHL level, showing his promising play at the next level.
A few weeks later, on November 20th, he was recalled again, where he'd play a handful of games for the Avalanche. Two games later, on November 23rd, Nielsen scored his first career NHL point and first NHL assist on a Cale Makar goal.
"It was a dream come true; it's been a dream I've been working on since I started playing hockey. It's been very cool, and I'm very grateful for this organization." Nielsen said. "It's so fast up there, you've got to be on top of your game, but it's also cool to see how people act off the ice, such as their preparation. It's pretty cool to see everyone and how they're all different."
Nielsen is no stranger in the Eagles locker room, as he played with Eagles goaltender Trent Miner for two seasons in the WHL for the Vancouver Giants.
Along with the hot start to the season, Nielsen is four goals away from his career high of 16, as this season Nielsen has been finding the back of the net more frequently and at a faster rate than in previous seasons.
"Staying focused and working hard has been key for me. It's my main goal heading into every game to create opportunities, and when I'm able to create opportunities, that's when I'm most effective." Nielsen explained.
Nielsen's young career has been one of perseverance, and he's been rewarded with success in every place he's been and has quickly made an immediate impact as a member of the Colorado Eagles.
