Colorado Avalanche: Redrafting The 2010 NHL Draft

Round 4

Feb 22, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg (3) against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Stars 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

95th overall (NYI):
Colorado Avalanche pick — D Steven Silas
New pick — C Craig Cunningham (97th to BOS)

Stephen Silas is a 6-foot defenseman that left the OHL after five seasons with the Belleville Bulls to play for the University of Waterloo in the Canadian CIS. He cannot be expected to ever play in the NHL and likely not in any professional hockey league.

Center Craig Cunningham has 53 NHL contests under his belt already. He is, admittedly, a very similar player to Joey Hishon, who was decided against in the first round. The difference here is that we are in the fourth round, not in the first, and it should be okay to opt for a small forward like Cunningham. Cunningham is now with the Arizona Coyotes and will likely remain an NHL player there for now.

107th overall:
Colorado Avalanche pick — G Sami Aittokallio
New pick — D John Klingberg (131st to DAL)

Sami Aittokallio is the Colorado Avalanche’s mandatory late-round goalie pick. While many of the past goaltenders that were drafted by the Avalanche never got close to the NHL, Aittokallio actually played in two NHL games already. He is currently Calvin Pickard’s backup in the AHL, but he has the potential to at least become an NHL backup one day.

Still, the new pick is someone else. Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg has just finished his rookie season — and it was a great one. In 65 games, Klingberg scored 11 goals and recorded 29 assists. He needs to develop his defensive game a little, but is already decent enough to play in the NHL. Klingberg should be an NHL D-man for years to come.

Next: Round 5