2015 NHL Draft: Top 5 Avalanche 4th Round Picks

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Barring any transactions, the Colorado Avalanche have six picks at the 2015 NHL Draft, having traded away their fifth rounder to the Montreal Canadians in the trade of P.A. Parenteau for Daniel Briere. In the fourth round the Avalanche have #101.

Let’s face it, more often than not the fourth round is a crap shoot. Players that go that late in the draft usually end up as depth players at best. Many never even make it into the NHL. Forward Brad Malone and goalie Sami Aittokallio are both fourth rounders who played a few games for the Avs, but those aren’t exactly raging success stories.

That said, a pick is a pick. Let’s see who the Colorado Avalanche might select with their fourth round pick at the 2015 NHL Draft.

Austin Strand, Defenseman

Age: 18 (2-17-1997)

Shoots: Right

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 194 pounds

Current Team: Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

NHL.com has defenseman Austin Strand ranked at #101 for North American skaters. Strand has good size on him — in fact, according to Yahoo Sports, he worked hard to bulk up a couple summers ago. Likewise, GM of the Rebels, Brent Sutter, appreciates the hard work he’s put in:

“He’s certainly been a pleasant surprise for us. In the last half of last year playing AAA Midget, he really took some steps and we weren’t exactly sure where he would be coming in, but he came in and he’s deserved everything he’s got. He’s a young player. He still has lots to learn, but we’ve been really happy with him.”

Strand looks to become a shutdown defenseman with an edge to his game. He said of his own game:

“I want to be hard to play against. I also have the offensive abilities to contribute in the offensive end and can make a play and a good first pass.”

Strand definitely has a lot to learn. However, he’s proven himself more than willing. Austin Strand would be a likely pick for the Colorado Avalanche in the 2015 NHL Draft at fourth round.

Austin Strand fight:

David Henley, Defenseman

Age: 18 (3-13-1997)

Shoots: Left

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 203 pounds

Current Team: Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)

Let’s get this out of the way first — defenseman David Henley has some questionable taste in music. According to his NHL.com draft profile, his favorite “musician” is Justin Bieber. We’ll let that slide because obviously he’ll learn better.

That said, Henley’s game also needs a bit of refinement. Like Strand, he aims to be tough to play against. Henley likes to play a physical game.

In fact, David Henley already has ties to the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche acquired David’s brother Samuel as a free agent. Samuel spent all last season playing for the Lake Erie Monsters. David also has another brother who was once picked by the Buffalo Sabres.

David Henley learned a lot from his brothers — especially about getting physical:

“My brothers have big bodies too. We try to play 1-on-1 battles very hard, let people know that we’re very hard to play against. We try to work on that and just play our game. I’m the little one of the family so they and my brothers push me hard.”

Considering Henley is an imposing 6-foot-4, 203 pounds, “little” might not be quite the right word. In any case, Henley is currently ranked at 95 for North American skaters, so he could potentially be available for the Avalanche’s #101 pick.

Adam Parsells, Defenseman

Age: 18 (1-3-1997)

Shoots: Left

Height: 6’6″

Weight: 192 pounds

Current Team: Wausau West (HIGH-WI)

Evgeni Nazarkin, Defenseman

Age: 18 (10-21-1996)

Shoots: Left

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 205 pounds

Current Team: Chelyabinsk 2 (Russia Jr.)

European skaters are wild cards. Defenseman Evgeni Nazarkin of the Russian Junior league is actually ranked at #50 for European skaters, but he could well still be available at #101.

Nazarkin played 50 games with the Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk last season, scoring three goals and earning a total of 21 points. He also played for Russia’s Under-20 team at the IIHF World Junior competitions.

Nazarkin is big and has the ability to make plays. He’ll probably stay in Russia at least another year, but he could be a worthy gamble for the Avalanche’s fourth round pick.

Matt Luff, Right Wing

View image | gettyimages.com

Age: 18 (5-5-1997)

Shoots: Right

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 179 pounds

Current Team: Belleville Bulls (OHL)

The Colorado Avalanche cannot rebuild by defensemen alone — they need some depth at forward positioning, too.

Right wing Matt Luff tore it up in the minor leagues, earning a reputation as a pure goal scorer. He hit a hiccup when he transitioned to the Ontario Hockey League, only earning nine goals and 22 assists in 64 games.

However, Luff likes to drive to the net, and he’s got good hands. As is common with pure goal scorers, Luff needs to work on his defensive game. However, he’s got talent — he just needs a little work on his higher level skill set.

NHL.com has Matt Luff ranked at 96. If he’s still available in the 2015 NHL Draft at #101, he wouldn’t be a bad pick for the Avs for forward depth.

Next: Avalanche Prospect Profiles

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