Colorado Avalanche Prospect Watch: CHL
Hockey season is slowly coming to a close all over the world. In Europe, most playoffs are almost over, while in North America, they are mostly just about to start.
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For us, it means that we get a chance to take a look at how the Colorado Avalanche prospects did, that still play in junior leagues or across the pond. Who got closer to the pros and who did not? Who will be able to make the jump first?
This mini-series starts with the Avalanche’s CHL-prospects and will be continued and finished Sunday, with those prospects that are active in the NCAA and in Europe.
The Colorado Avalanche have a really young core. Coach Roy relies heavily on — and has to rely on — guys like Matt Duchene (24), Gabriel Landeskog (22) and Nathan MacKinnon (19). That is a really good thing, as long-term-planning cannot happen if your team primaril relies on players in their late 30s, that could, well, pack their bags and retire every day.
(Looking at) the Avalanche’s current prospect pool, (…) it does not look too great.
However, it is also always important to have new guys coming up from the prospect pool. The young core gets older, the older players retire, and new quality and depth has to be brought in through the draft. Now, applying that on the Avalanche’s current prospect pool, baearing in mind that the defence currently consists of two quality NHL players, it does not look too great.
But with a little bit of luck, some of the Avalanche prospects can become real gems — and even get NHL playing-time as early as next season.
For those of us that are not familiar with Hockey’s Future’s prospect evaluation or prospect score, here is a little heads up.
Next: Who could the Avs target in the 2015 Draft?
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G Spencer Martin (Mississauga Steelheads, OHL)
Draft: 2013, 63rd overall pick
Age: 19
HF Talent Evaluation: 6.5 C
2014-2015 stats:
| GP | GAA | SVS% |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | 2.98 | .921 |
2014-2015 recap:
Spencer Martin, one of Colorado’s two goalie prospects, had a great start into the season. His save-percentage is third-best among OHL goalies, trailing only Oshawa’s Ken Appleby and Kingston’s Lucas Peressini. His good performance earned him a spot on Team OHL’s roster in the Subway Super Series. Unfortunately, Martin’s season was cut short, as he injured his knee just after Christmas. He was unable to return for the remainder of the campain.
2015-2016 outlook:
Martin is ready to turn pro but he has tough competition in Lake Erie. If Reto Berra stays, Pickard, Berra and Aittokallio will be ahead of Martin. If Berra’s contract gets terminated and Pickard replaces him as the Avalanche backup, Martin will get a chance in the AHL.
D Chris Bigras (Owen Sound Attack, OHL)
Draft: 2013, 32nd overall pick
Age: 20
HF Talent Evaluation: 7.5 C
2014-2015 stats:
| GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 20 | 51 | 71 | 52 | 9 |
2014-2015 recap:
Chris Bigras had an offensive breakout-season. The two-way defenceman scored 20 goals and added 51 assists, which is good for second among OHL defencemen. He plays a responsible game in all areas of the ice. Bigras represented the OHL at the Subway Super Series.
2015-2016 outlook:
Bigras will try to earn a roster spot with the Avalanche out of training camp. While that seems unlikely, he will certainly start the season with the AHL affiliate. Since the Avalanche has a rather week defence-corps, Bigras has good chances to get some NHL time if he performs well in the AHL.
D Mason Geertsen (Vancouver Giants, WHL)
Draft: 2013, 93rd overall pick
Age: 19
HF Talent Evaluation: 7.0 D
2014-2015 stats:
| GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | 13 | 25 | 38 | 107 | 3 |
2014-2015 recap:
Mason Geertsen is a Giant. That applies to his team, as well as his frame. And he knows how to use that to his advantage. Geertsen punishes his opponents and has assembled 107 penalty minutes. However, he also developed offensively, being more dangerous in the offensive zone than he used to be. A career-high 13 goals speak for themselves.
2015-2016 outlook:
The Colorado Avalanche has awarded Geertsen an NHL entry-level contract for his great performance. He will likely get some playoff time with Lake Erie to get familiar with the pro-game, before turning pro full-time next season. Similar to Chris Bigras, Geertsen is expected to start the season in the AHL and possibly serve as a call-up.
D Kyle Wood (North Bay Battalion, OHL)
Draft: 2014, 84th overall pick
Age: 18
HF Talent Evaluation: 7.0 D
2014-2015 stats:
| GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | 16 | 24 | 40 | 18 | 2 |
2014-2015 recap:
Kyle Wood is another player that had a breakout-season. The defenceman that is even bigger than Mason Geertsen and has been deemed a purely defensive defenceman, recorded an outstanding amount of points — 16 goals and 24 assists — as he served as the Battalion’s powerplay quarterback.
2015-2016 outlook:
Wood is a perfect example for why 19-year-olds should be AHL-eligible. But since they aren’t, Wood will have to spend another year in the OHL to mature. It will not hurt him as he needs to round out his game. Expect him in the AHL for 2016-2017.
LW Julien Nantel (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, QMJHL)
Draft: 2014, 204th overall pick
Age: 18
HF Talent Evaluation: 6.5 D
2014-2015 stats:
| GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 26 | 35 | 61 | 34 | 4 |
2014-2015 recap:
Julien Nantel is looking good, scoring at a point-per-game pace in 14-15. He uses his body well to protect the puck and to create room in the offensive zone. Nantel tries to be defensively responsible but needs to be more consistent in his efforts.
2015-2016 outlook:
Nantel will have a top-six role with the Huskies next season. He still needs a lot of time and it is hard to guess if he will have the tools to succeed in pro-hockey.
LW Alexis Pepin (Val-d’Or Foreurs, QMJHL)
Draft: 2014, 114th overall pick
Age: 18
HF Talent Evaluation: 6.5 D
2014-2015 stats:
| GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 18 | 9 | 27 | 36 | 2 |
2014-2015 recap:
Alexis Pepin has played for three different teams in the Q over the past two seasons. Still recovering from a shoulder injury, he missed a chunk of the season, before joining the action in October. Pepin has not shown much improvement since last year and the questions on work-ethic and consistency remain. The tools are visibly there but it does not seem like he can convert them to a more mature game.
2015-2016 outlook:
Pepin will need much time to develop in juniors. Do not expect him to join the pros anytime soon.
C Conner Bleackley (Red Deer Rebels, WHL)
Draft: 2014, 23rd overall pick
Age: 18
HF Talent Evaluation: 7.5 C
2014-2015 stats:
| GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 27 | 22 | 49 | 49 | 13 |
2014-2015 recap:
Connor Bleackley had another solid year as the Rebels’ captain. Nothing outstanding, simply solid. He plays a very mature and well-rounded two-way game, but is still a long-shot for the pros. He produced at nearly point-per-game and keeps on developing slowly but steadily.
2015-2016 outlook:
Bleackley needs a lot more time before we will se him in Colorado. Expect to see him in the AHL as soon as he reaches eligibility, though.
RW Nick Magyar (Kitchener Rangers, OHL)
Draft: 2014, 93rd overall pick
Age: 18
HF Talent Evaluation: 7.0 D
2014-2015 stats:
| GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 16 | -4 |
2014-2015 recap:
Nick Magyar‘s season was a little set-back. It remains to be seen if he will recover from that or remain an average junior player. Magyar showed flashes of NHL-talent throughout the season but still has to become more consistent. He also needs to improve his skating before he can succeed on the pro level.
2015-2016 outlook:
Magyar will need to show if he can turn his potential into production. The next few seasons will be spent in Kitchener.
Next: Who could the Avs target in the 2015 Draft?
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- Jared Bednar pleased with Colorado Avalanche forwards
- Colorado Avalanche, Devon Toews headed in right direction with contract
- Will Valeri Nichushkin start slow for Colorado Avalanche in 2023-24?
- Could Colorado Avalanche move on from Pavel Francouz next offseason?
- 4 goalies to replace Pavel Francouz if he has to miss time