Colorado Avalanche: Redrafting The 2011 NHL Draft

Round 1

Feb 8, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog (92) warms up prior to the game against there Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

2nd overall:
Colorado Avalanche pick — LW Gabriel Landeskog
New pick — LW Gabriel Landeskog

I will admit, I made it sound as though there was another possibility besides picking Landeskog again. But there really isn’t. Landeskog is a top-line forward the Avalanche have been able to rely on for several years now. He is the youngest captain in NHL history and will likely stay in that position for many years to come.

Landeskog has scored 80 goals and recorded 193 points in 281 games for the Avalanche so far.

11th overall (STL):
Colorado Avalanche pick — D Duncan Siemens
New pick — RW Nikita Kucherov (58th to TBL)

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It was a tight race for who would be the new Colorado Avalanche 11th overall pick. However, it was an easy decision to select a new player over defenseman Duncan Siemens. At long last, Siemens just gave his NHL debut in the Avalanches last game of the 2014-15 season. The potential is still there, but he hasn’t quite developed as well as management and fans had hoped. If everything goes well from here, Siemens may become an NHL regular within the next two seasons. Still, the new 11th overall pick would be a different one.

The decision was made between Chicago’s Brandon Saad and Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov. Saad is in his third season with the Blackhawks, Kucherov is in his rookie season. I honestly thought about it for a long time and ultimately decided that they are quite possibly equal in terms of talent. The one difference maker was the seventh round pick that I made in this draft.

The Colorado Avalanche’s 2011 second round pick was traded to St. Louis, the third round pick to the New York Islanders.

Next: Round 4