Prior to now few days, the Colorado Avalanche and a few younger prospects participated within the 2024 Rookie Faceoff match. The Avs have been amongst seven groups invited to play on this 12 months’s video games, which the Los Angeles Kings hosted. Though Colorado’s younger gamers didn’t win any of the three video games, the expertise gained from the additional ice time earlier than the preseason is invaluable.
Each participant on the match roster had one thing to realize from taking part. For the reason that video games have been out there without cost on the group’s official web sites, I made positive to observe them. Though I perceive that the win/loss document isn’t a very powerful factor, seeing some highly-praised prospects in precise sport conditions was worthwhile. I’m pleased to report that a couple of potential future Avalanche gamers stood out.
Calum Ritchie
Calum Ritchie had 5 assists on an Avalanche group with little or no going for it, and he seemed just like the standout many anticipated him to be. Ritchie is an thrilling younger ahead who performed exceptionally nicely after returning to complete well being from a shoulder damage final season. He is a wonderful two-way menace, shifty and expert with the puck, and doesn’t enable extra outstanding, stronger gamers to benefit from him. With Alex Newhook out of the Avalanche image, it turned clear that there was an actual alternative for Ritchie to change into a big contributor to the group’s center six. The scouting reviews on Ritchie laud his separation capability and his positional consciousness. These are qualities that might result in numerous helpers.
Ritchie’s talents have been on full show, with him making performs left and proper, establishing teammates on the ability play, and main the offense every time he had an opportunity. Ritchie utilized his sharp imaginative and prescient and persistence with the puck to lure the penalty killers towards him. He then made a go to Jason Polin, adopted by a fast cross-ice go after profitable the faceoff in sport one, and one other cross-ice go on the ability play in sport three. These performs spotlight Ritchie’s potential for the long run.
Sean Behrens
Sean Behrens, thought-about the most effective defensive prospect in Colorado’s pipeline, additionally confirmed some promise. He was a second-round decide within the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has a winner’s pedigree. Behrens gained an NCAA title with the College of Denver final season, so many Avalanche followers already know his title. Behrens understands what Colorado values of their offensive-minded defensemen and is poised to ship extra. He confirmed a willingness to leap into the offensive play, particularly within the first sport. He was aggressive in transferring the puck, and though he solely acquired one help, he was noticeable as an initiator on a couple of probabilities. He used his dimension and body to play aggressively when chasing down a unfastened puck on their finish or retrieving one on the opponent’s finish to maintain the play alive.
Associated: Colorado Avalanche High 20 Prospects: Submit-2024 NHL Draft
The cellular defenseman is very lively and might considerably impression all three zones. He successfully exits his personal zone and makes a superb first go. Moreover, he can successfully transfer the puck into the offensive zone and is expert at breaking apart opposing rushes. He anticipates performs nicely and performs extra considerably than his dimension. This exhibiting was an excellent signal of what’s going to come this season when he joins the Colorado Eagles within the American Hockey League (AHL) for his first total season {of professional} hockey. We noticed a small glimpse of what he brings on the finish of final season, together with taking part in one playoff sport with the Eagles, however there was nothing to jot down residence about. Seeing what he can do that season with the Eagles will probably be enjoyable to observe as he grows, and seeing his efficiency and play may assist him get some reps with the Avalanche if wanted.
Ivan Ivan
Ivan Ivan is without doubt one of the most intriguing gamers heading into the draft who wasn’t a big draft prospect like Ritchie and Behrens. The 22-year-old is presently on a newly signed two-year contract, and was on an AHL contract with the Eagles earlier than signing that two-year deal. Ivan’s transfer to the skilled league has sparked discussions about his potential as a dependable playmaking middle within the backside six, able to contributing to penalty-killing efforts. His almost 200 pound dimension shouldn’t be an impediment as he adjusts to the NHL.
His play within the Rookie Faceoff continued to indicate what he displayed in his first season with the Eagles and his development this offseason. In sport one, he confirmed his playmaking talents towards the Anaheim Geese, establishing Max Curran on a feed-and-carry set-up play. Ivan added one other help on a face-off win on the ability play, which went to Curran after which Polin for the end. Like Behrens, this season will probably be an thrilling alternative to see Ivan and the way he continues rising and progressing in his sport from final season. It gained’t be simple to high the 31 factors in 67 video games he produced with the Eagles in season one, however consistency needs to be the important thing to his success. Ivan has principally been saved at middle, which is uncommon for a younger participant within the system. If he proves his reliability within the place, there could be a call-up in his future.
Wins aren’t the target in a rookie-tournament setting with out even a profitable group declared. The essential half is that the related prospects are exhibiting nicely, and so they did. Ritchie’s masterful passing was on show, significantly on the ability play. It’s not simple to shortly create a cohesive man benefit with most gamers who’ve by no means performed collectively. Behrens, Oskar Olausson, Ivan, and Curran all had constructive moments and hit the scoresheet. It was a profitable tune-up earlier than Avalanche camp begins and head into the preseason.
