2015 NHL Draft: Top 6 Avalanche 2nd Round Picks

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The Colorado Avalanche have six picks in the 2015 NHL Draft, having traded away round five to the Montreal Canadiens in the P.A. Parenteau for Daniel Briere trade.

We’ve been covering draft profiles and also draft procedures. As the days tick away to the actual 2015 NHL Draft on June 26 and 27, we’re also looking at some of the most likely prospects for the Colorado Avalanche.

Round 2 starts at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday with the Buffalo Sabres and pick #31. The Avalanche have the #40 pick in the second round. GM Joe Sakic stated that the team would select for need starting in the second round, and he specifically mentioned “big forwards and skilled defensemen.”

Let’s look at what prospects might be available and attractive to the Avalanche in the second round.

#6: Jeremy Lauzon

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Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Height/weight: 6’2″, 195 pounds
Team: Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
Pro comparison: Marco Scandella
Draft range: second round, NHL.com = #42 N.A. skaters

Jeremy Lauzon started out as a strictly defensive defenseman. He operated in a strictly shutdown role. However, at the urging of his coaches, he worked on his offensive game, and he earned a total of 36 points last season (15 goals, 21 assists).

Lauzon displays good puck possession and puck moving skills, both of which are skills the Avalanche need. He may not be quite the “skilled defenseman” Joe Sakic was talking about, but he displays a lot of upside as an eventual third-pairing defenseman.

#5: Gabriel Gagne

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Position: Right wing/center
Shoots: Right
Height/weight: 6’5″ and 183 pounds
Team: Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
Pro comparison: Keith Primeau
Draft range: second round, NHL.com = #36 N.A. skaters

Here’s another big power forward for the Colorado Avalanche to consider, Gabriel Gagne. He’s still on the upside of his development and has a fair amount of work ahead of him.

Gagne’s a willowy 6-foot-4, 183 pounds, but he should fill out and live up to his physical potential in the game. He’s been working on his skating and offense production. Indeed, he’s speedy and  doubled his offense from last year to this.

Gagne is going to take some time to develop. He has a tremendous amount of potential, the size and the work ethic that the Colorado Avalanche prize. The team might expend a second round pick on Gabriel Gagne.

#4: Nicolas Meloche

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Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Height/weight: 6’3″ and 205 pounds
Team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
Pro comparison: Dan Hamhuis
Draft range: 26 to 40, NHL.com = #40 N.A. skaters

Nicolas Meloche seems to have a lot going on. He’s big and mean, and he displays decent hockey IQ for a teen. Meloche is strong on the puck, and he’s not afraid to do the dirty work of hockey, such as park himself in front of his own net.

That said, Meloche is still working on his skating. However, his team uses him on the power play and for big minutes in games. He’ll still need some development, but he would be a definite asset to the Colorado Avalanche depth at the defensive position.

For North American skaters Meloche is scouted at #40, the Avs’ draft pick. Because of his size and work ethic, Colorado might spend their second round draft pick on him.

#3: Mitchell Vande Sompel

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Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Height/weight: 5’10″ and 182 pounds
Team: Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Pro comparison: Tyson Barrie, Kris Letang
Draft range: second round, NHL.com = #34 N.A. skaters

Mitchell Vande Sompel started his hockey life as a forward but converted to defense. As such, he’s an offensive defenseman who scored 12 goals and earned 63 points last season with the Oshawa Generals.

Vande Sompel is smallish even by forwards standards, and that hurts him. However, he’s a gifted skater with a quick and deadly shot. He told Hockey’s Future that he models his game after players he thinks he resembles:

“Obviously there’s a lot of guys that I look up to and watch. I think [Kris] Letang — I think I try to keep a close eye on him. And [Erik] Karlsson — all those guy who are offensive-minded defenseman.”

With his size and forward-like abilities, I think he’s got Tyson Barrie written all over him — and that worked out pretty well for the Avalanche.

#2: Christian Fischer

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Position: Right wing/center
Shoots: Right
Height/weight: 6’1″ and 212 pounds
Team: US National Team Development Program
Pro comparison: Dustin Brown
Draft range: second round, NHL.com = #37 N.A. skaters

Christian Fischer displays grit and leadership, both of which the Colorado Avalanche value. He’s a power forward in the manner of LA Kings captain Dustin Brown. He possesses the puck well and delivers some bone-jarring hits.

Fischer is also known for playing a strong two-way game. His skills may not be the sexiest around, but he’s also a lot more than a journeyman forward. Christian Fischer does what it takes to win and takes whatever his coaches say to heart — and to the rink.

The Avs selected a similar player, Conner Bleackley, with their first round pick last year — I could see them expending #40 on Christian Fischer.