The Colorado Avalanche heads into the 2024 offseason with some pondering to do. It feels as if the 2022 Stanley Cup Championship season was a lifetime in the past. After being despatched packing by the Dallas Stars within the second spherical of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Avalanche want to handle a number of points.
Associated: Avalanche Should Prioritize Re-Signing Pending Free Agent Drouin
Along with a number of essential free-agent selections, the workforce additionally has to cope with whether or not winger Valeri Nichushkin will ever swimsuit up for them once more. With the Twenty fourth-overall choose within the NHL Draft, the workforce must inventory its cabinet and put together for the long run, which is why middle Cole Beaudoin of the Barrie Colts could possibly be the choose.
A Deep Dive Into Cole Beaudoin’s Recreation
Beaudoin took a significant leap ahead in each method in his sophomore marketing campaign with Barrie. He added an “A” to his sweater in a management position, however it’s his development on the rating sheet that has maybe been the largest.
Beaudoin jumped considerably in just about each class. He set new highs in objectives (28), assists (34), and factors (62) whereas logging extra essential minutes. He additionally flashed potential through the Hlinka Gretzky Cup for Crew Canada, making him an attention-grabbing possibility close to the tip of the primary spherical.
His measurement is sweet, and he has the body to get into the muck on the NHL stage. At 6-foot-2, 210 kilos, he already has the majority to win battles. Beaudoin might conceivably step in on the NHL stage in a few years and be able to deal with the pains of the season.
The factor that jumps out about Beaudoin is his two-way recreation. In contrast to the overwhelming majority of prospects at his age, he’s already robust defensively, taking part in properly with out the puck. He has good imaginative and prescient as properly, using his teammates and discovering openings.
Maybe essentially the most attention-grabbing a part of Beaudoin’s recreation is his shot, which is above common and might get on high of goalies shortly. If he can hone his launch, he might grow to be an excellent middle-of-the-lineup scoring possibility.
What Can Beaudoin Work On?
The very first thing that jumps out about space Beaudoin wants to enhance on is his skating. Although he has grown leaps and bounds from his first season with Barrie, there may be nonetheless room to enhance. He lacks burst, particularly in his first few steps.
There are additionally issues about his compete stage for a full 60 minutes. He generally seems as if he coasts by means of performs. If he’s going to grow to be an asset within the NHL, the trouble goes to should be there.
His shot may be an asset, however he must work on changing into extra egocentric with the puck. He tends to dish a bit most of the time although he has the type of shot that would make him sneaky productive within the NHL.
How Beaudoin Would Match With the Avalanche
Beaudoin has the potential to be a good middle-six ahead on the NHL stage. His robust two-way recreation would make him an possibility on the third or fourth line inside a yr or two, which is nice for the Avalanche contemplating their potential salary-cap points.
From there, Beaudoin will probably rely on his ice time. If he can get time on the ability play, his shot could possibly be advantageous. It additionally wouldn’t be a shock to see him on the penalty kill given how robust he’s defensively and his precedence on a 200-foot recreation.
Choosing Twenty fourth general, the Avalanche don’t have to achieve as a result of the probability of discovering a participant who makes a right away affect is slim. Taking the most effective participant accessible is right and Beaudoin might doubtlessly fill a job that has been sorely lacking since Nazem Kadri departed.
