Avalanche List: Top 5 Draft Picks for #10
The Colorado Avalanche have the #10 selection at the 2015 NHL Draft. Avalanche GM Joe Sakic stated in yesterday’s media call that the team would be open to trading up or trading down. However, the Avs are also content with the #10 pick.
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At the end of the season, head coach Patrick Roy, who has last word on player personnel as VP of hockey operations, told 104.3 The Fan that he didn’t see why the Colorado Avalanche couldn’t draft a “6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 center” and also that he felt the team’s lack of size contributed to their injuries — Colorado lost the second-most man games to injury during the 2014-15 season. Coach Roy also stated he felt the team had a lot of talent already in defensive prospects.
I took that information and ran with it. I’ve been scouting big forwards in the #10 range of scouting ranking, ignoring smaller players and defensemen.
Our GM threw a small wrench into my reasoning:
“We have our list, we’ve had our meetings and we’re confident we’re going to get a real good player that’s going to have an opportunity to help us, whether it’s next year or down the line. It’s going to be the best player available for us. Other rounds, we’re going to look more to need.”
Sakic also pointed out there’s some “skilled defensemen” available as well as “big forwards.”
Well, so that doesn’t radically change who I think the Avs are going to select with their #10 pick, but it does open up a couple other possibilities that I hadn’t considered. Let’s look.
#5: Ivan Provorov
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 200 pounds
Draft Range: 5 to 15
I would still be really surprised if the Avalanche drafted Ivan Provorov. Not only is he a defenseman, but he’s a small one. That said, he’s also a “skilled defenseman.”
Provorov skates well and can move the puck. He’s got the offensive skills expected of European forwards. While not big, he does place his body in the perfect position for defensive plays.
He’s got good hockey IQ for his level. He remains cool under pressure but displays a high compete level — that might get coach Roy’s attention.
Provorov might not be available at #10. NHL.com has him scouted #7. My co-editor, Janik Beichler, has him going at #9 to the San Jose Sharks in his mock draft. Interestingly, so do I in my own mock draft.
I kind of still hope the Avalanche don’t draft Provorov even if he’s available. We’ve already got Stefan Eliott and Duncan Siemens with similar skill sets not panning out for the Avalanche. Tyson Barrie notwithstanding, I also like bigger defensemen.
#4: Zachary Werenski
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 206 pounds
Draft Range: 6 to 10
I wrote Zach Werenski off because he’s a defenseman and not huge — he’s average NHL size for any skater. However, The Hockey Writers’ Shawn Reznik calls Werenski “the best defenseman available in the draft.”
Fellow Mile High Sticking editor Janik Biechler said of Werenski:
“[He] plays a pressing offensive style. Werenski plays great breakout passes and likes to rush the puck into the offensive zone himself. He has very good senses and visibility and possesses a powerful stride, which helps him on the breakout.”
I think Werenski will be selected before #10. I have him being selected #6 by the New Jersey Devils in my mock draft. Janik has him going #8 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. NHL.com has him scouted as #9 for North American skaters.
If he’s still available at #10, Werenski is the type of “skilled defenseman” Joe Sakic was talking about.
#3: Timo Meier
Position: Right wing/center
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 209 pounds
Draft Range: 10 to 20
I started out on the Timo Meier love train. Central scouting puts him directly at #10 for North American skaters. I wrote a draft profile about him awhile back.
What I like about Meier is that he’s already playing a strong skill game, and he’s only willing to get better. I think that’ll catch coach Roy’s eye. He’s not quite a “6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 center,” but he uses his size to play a big game in the manner of Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog.
Meier is excellent at handling the puck. He can also finish his shots.
I’m not saying I’m off the Timo Meier love train exactly. However, he’s not scouted highly, relatively speaking, and there are a couple weaknesses in his game. I think he will be available at #10, but I’m not sure the Avs will select him.
#2: Mikko Rantanen
Position: Right wing
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 212 pounds
Draft Range: 5 to 12
There’s a lot to like about the big right wing from Finland, Mikko Rantanen (except for his first name – it’s the same as our rival’s captain, but I digress). Rantanen is absolutely the “big forward” and skilled player Joe Sakic was talking about.
In my own mock draft I chose Mikko Rantanen for the Avalanche. In the Fan Sided Mock Draft, Mile High Sticking selected Rantanen, and I’m not going to say I twisted Janik’s arm, but… I was a little forceful in my input.
I think Rantanen has exactly what the Avalanche need. He’s big, and he’s extremely talented in making plays. He’s a fantastic skater with soft hands. Mikko dominates on ice, and I could see coach Roy wanting him for the team.
That said, there’s one player I want even more than Mikko Rantanen for the Colorado Avalanche’s #10 pick.
#1: Pavel Zacha
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 210 pounds
Draft Range: 6 to 14
There’s just something about Pavel Zacha. He’s big like Mikko Rantanen, but he’s even more aggressive. If there’s anything that he fears on the ice, he hides it well.
Zacha is also speedy and possesses a sniper’s shot. One thing I love about Pavel Zacha is his shoot first, ask questions later mentality. That would be so good for the Avalanche.
Sarnia Sting’s coach, Trevor Letowski said of Pavel Zacha:
“He’s the type of player who wants it—wants it so bad. He wants to be a difference-maker. To score that big goal.”
That’s part of what sells me on Zacha — that level of compete reminds me of Peter Forsberg.
That said, he didn’t make it to #10 in Fan Sided’s Mock Draft (#9) or my own (#7). Janik’s not as big a fan and had him go at #12.
However, due to size, strength and compete level — and overall skill — I could see Joe Sakic calling Zacha’s name if he’s still available at #10.
Next: Prospect Profile: Pavel Zacha
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