Welcome to the Colorado Avalanche Prospect Replace, whereby every month, we’ll take a look at Avalanche prospects taking part in in varied leagues and see how they’re performing. Whereas some gamers have nice potential, the Avalanche’s farm system is nowhere shut to groups just like the Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Geese and Columbus Blue Jackets, who’ve had larger draft picks in the previous few years, whereas the Avalanche have traded away a lot of their prospects and draft picks.
One fast be aware: All gamers listed below are 25 or below.
Colorado Eagles, American Hockey League (AHL)
Nikita Prishchepov, the seventh-round choose within the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, signed his entry-level contract (ELC) in early October and is off to a fantastic begin in his skilled profession. Coming off a career-high season of twenty-two objectives and 67 factors with the Victoriaville Tigers of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), he’s second on the Eagles in scoring with one objective and three assists and second with a plus-3 ranking. He’s a bottom-six power participant with a excessive work ethic who isn’t afraid to play bodily and loves battling in entrance of the web. He jogs my memory of Ville Nieminen, who was seemingly drafted for the same position.
It’s been a tough begin for Oskar Olausson, who, in six video games, has one objective and one help and is a minus-1. Oluasson has not seen the manufacturing anticipated of him because the Twenty eighth-overall choose within the 2021 Draft. Sadly, he handled important accidents final season that prevented him from having a breakout marketing campaign.
At 22 years outdated, Jean-Luc Foudy is getting into his fifth skilled season with the group. Accidents have affected his efficiency the final two seasons, however he’s approaching a milestone of 200 AHL video games performed and simply performed his first sport of the marketing campaign after recovering from an harm this previous offseason.
Goaltender Trent Miner was set to be the crew’s starter this season and has seemed strong in two appearances. With a win and extra time loss below his belt, he has a .960 save share (SV%) and a goals-against common of 0.97. Don’t be stunned to see Miner get a call-up to the NHL if Alexandar Georgiev continues to battle and thhe newly-acquired Kaapo Kahkonen doesn’t play effectively.
Matthew Steinberg, Ivan Ivan, Chris Wagner, and T.J. Tynan are all with the Avalanche however will seemingly return to the Eagles because the roster will get more healthy.
Nationwide Collegiate Athletics Affiliation (NCAA)
Ahead Taylor Makar, Cale Makar‘s brother, was chosen by the Avalanche within the seventh spherical of 2021. After struggling at College of Massachusetts, his switch to the College of Maine has led to an improved efficiency already. In 5 video games, he has 4 objectives and 7 factors, two shy of final season’s whole in 36 video games, and he ranks second on the crew in factors. If he continues to carry out this effectively, this could possibly be the season he indicators his ELC.
Jake Fisher additionally began the season robust with a brand new crew, the College of Denver. After ending with 23 objectives and 47 factors with Fargo Pressure in america Hockey League (USHL) final season, he already has three objectives and 5 factors in six video games in 2024-25. When Fisher isn’t delivering off-the-pass wrist pictures, he overpowers opponents in battles, steals pucks within the defensive zone, and wins puck retrievals.
College of Denver defenceman Tory Pitner is off to a sluggish begin. The sixth-round choose within the 2024 Draft has no factors in 4 video games, however he’s centered on perfecting his defensive expertise. His sound positioning, exactly timed poke checks, overwhelming physicality, and intelligent tie-ups contribute to his power as a blueliner. When defending in opposition to rushes, he successfully retains opponents to the surface by aggressively taking the center and shortly maneuvering throughout to make the cease.
Christian Humphreys, whose sport revolves round scoring, has but to register a degree in 4 video games with the College of Michigan. He will get touches by positioning himself successfully within the offensive zone and executing flawlessly-timed reloading routes throughout transitions. He fastidiously analyzes opposing defences, utilizing a mixture of slowing down, deception, and endurance to attend for his goal to develop into out there earlier than making a exact long-range go. His work ethic is there; it’s only a matter of time earlier than a shot hits the again of the web.
Canadian Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Western Hockey League (WHL)
The Avalanche’s prime prospect, Calum Ritchie, made the opening-night roster after standout growth and coaching camps. He scored his first NHL objective in opposition to the New York Islanders however was finally returned to the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. In two video games, he has 5 assists. A key issue concerning Ritchie this season is that he’ll flip 20 in January, which qualifies him to play within the AHL. I assume that after his season with the Generals concludes, he’ll be part of the Eagles for the rest of their season. This additionally implies that if he doesn’t make the beginning roster subsequent season, he can start with the Eagles and might be referred to as up or despatched down while not having waivers.
Associated: Colorado Avalanche Prime 20 Prospects: Publish-2024 NHL Draft
Maxmilian Curran has proven why he was a fantastic choose for the Avalanche. The fourth-round 2024 choice has three objectives and 11 factors in 10 video games with the Tri-Metropolis People. He’s expert at extending possession by ready for a teammate to get open, successfully deceiving the defence. Whereas he’s usually a playmaker, he understands when to take a shot, delay his resolution, or make a easy play to get open for a return go.
Russian Leagues
Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), VHL
Zakhar Bardakov was acquired final season from the New Jersey Devils, who drafted him within the seventh spherical of the 2021 Draft. An alternate captain for SKA St.Petersburg, the 23-year-old has eight objectives and 7 assists in 22 video games. He could possibly be an thrilling participant to commerce or signal as his sport develops.
Drafted alongside Ritchie within the 2023 Draft, Mikhail Gulyayev has had a tough begin to the season with Avangard Omsk. He has two objectives and three factors in 18 video games, though he’s extra of a two-way defenceman. Avangard has been struggling, with a 7-12-0 document, however Gulyayev’s defensive talents have outshined his offensive manufacturing to begin the season.
Colorado’s second-round choose within the 2024 Draft, Ilya Nabokov, is a 21-year-old, 6-foot-1 goaltender from Metallurg Magnitogorsk. He has an 8-8-0 document to begin the season, with two shutouts, a .923 SV%, and a 2.37 GAA. He’s energetic and assured within the crease, successfully difficult shooters by making explosive actions and shortly entering into place. His positioning on the publish is important, as he maintains a strong hinge to remain on an angle. He additionally understands easy methods to use the reverse VH approach to go well with his model.
Different American Leagues
United States Hockey League (USHL), ECHL
William Zellers, a third-round choose of the 2024 Draft, began the season with a brand new crew, the Inexperienced Bay Gamblers. He’s coming off a monster marketing campaign of 57 objectives and 111 factors at Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep. By attacking defenders from behind, the 5-foot-11 ahead goals at defensive triangles, sliding pucks via defenders’ legs and adjusting his rush patterns to achieve the within of the ice. This season, he has 4 objectives and one help in six video games.
Goaltender Louka Cloutier is in his second season with the Chicago Metal and has a 3-3 document whereas posting a .882 SV% and a 4.08 GAA. The Metal are struggling, with a 5-8-0 document and a negative-20 objective differential , which hasn’t helped Cloutier enhance his sport. Apart from that, he has achieved fairly effectively, being the one drafted participant on his crew.
There’s a lot to be excited concerning the Avalanche’s prospects, particularly the manufacturing of lower-level picks outdoors of Ritchie, Gulyayev, and Nabokov. Given the state of the Avalanche, they might need assistance earlier than anticipated if a change doesn’t happen shortly.
