Colorado Avalanche Top 10 Prospects After Draft

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The Colorado Avalanche’s prospect pool has been stocked up nicely at the 2015 NHL Draft. Seven picks were made and the Avs added Mikhail Grigorenko and J.T. Compher in the trade that sent Ryan O’Reilly to Buffalo. Therefore, their current depth chart of prospects has also changed.

Joey Hishon and Duncan Siemens got to play some games in the NHL, while Mason Geertsen and Chris Bigras have got their first taste of professional hockey with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters. We took a look at how that changes rankings and where those prospects will likely be next season.

There may be a few surprises in the rankings, although the top-prospects seem to be unanimously set. So without further ado, check out our post-draft Colorado Avalanche prospect ranking!

Next: Honorable Mentions

Honorable mentions

Sep 20, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Stefan Elliott (46) controls the puck in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

D Stefan Elliott

Stefan Elliott has been around for a while now. He has gotten quite a few chances to play in the NHL, but despite his top-notch offensive skill, he has been unable to stick around for good. Elliott looks shaky defensively a lot of the time and it seems like his days with the Colorado Avalanche may be numbered.

NHL-ready: ???

LW J.T. Compher

J.T. Compher is one of the Avalanche’s newest additions, as he was sent over from Buffalo in the Ryan O’Reilly deal. Compher was drafted 35th overall in 2013 and will likely join the pros after his stint with the University of Michigan.

NHL-ready: 2017-18

C Jean-Christophe Beaudin

Jean-Christophe Beaudin is a member of the Colorado Avalanche’s 2015 draft class. He will need time to develop in the QMJHL and fill a leadership role with his team, before he will be able to join the pros. Time in the AHL is also very well possible.

NHL-ready: 2019-20

D Andrei Mironov

Andrei Mironov is a very interesting player. At 20 years old, he was one of the oldest players selected in the 2015 NHL Draft. He has been playing in the Russian KHL for three years already and is much closer to professional hockey than many others. KHL All-Star. He will likely stay in the KHL until his contract expires, but could join Avs right after.

NHL-ready: 2015-16

Next: Colorado Avalanche prospect #10

Colorado Avalanche prospect #10 — D Mason Geertsen

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Mason Geertsen just had another great year with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, which earned him a contract with the Colorado Avalanche. At 6-foot-4, Geertsen could be the big, physical defenseman to fill one of the bottom-pairing spots that Nate Guenin and Brad Stuart currently inherit.

The Vancouver Giants missed the postseason this year, which allowed Geertsen to get a first taste of professional hockey, playing in nine games with the Lake Erie Monsters in the AHL. That is also where he is likely going to start the next season, only this time it will be with the San Antonio Rampage. If he adjusts well to the professional game and plays well in San Antonio, a first call-up could be possible as early as next season.

NHL-ready: 2018-19

Next: Colorado Avalanche prospect #9

Colorado Avalanche prospect #9 — D Kyle Wood

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Kyle Wood is even taller than Geertsen, standing 6-f00t-5 — one inch more than Geertsen. Wood just finished his second full season with the OHL’s North Bay Battalion and was an extremely valuable part of his team. While Geertsen is projecting as a pure shutdown defenseman, Wood also shows promising offensive skill.

For the future, Wood projects as a physical two-way defenseman for the bottom-four. He could need some more time to round out his skill-set in the OHL and AHL, before getting his first call-ups as early as two years from now.

NHL-ready: 2018-19

Next: Colorado Avalanche prospect #8

Colorado Avalanche prospect #8 — D Duncan Siemens

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Duncan Siemens. A little bit of a reach, being taken 11th overall at the 2011 draft, he is currently more of a mystery than anything else. Was he worth the pick? Probably not, but he can still turn into a very valuable player for the Avalanche.

He has been working hard, especially after struggling with injuries in both seasons with the Lake Erie Monsters, and finally earned himself a first call-up for the last regular season game of 2014-15 against the Blackhawks. While he was not outstanding by any means, he did show that he has the potential to play in the NHL one day. When that day will come, though, is still a mystery.

NHL-ready: 2016-17

Next: Colorado Avalanche prospect #7

Colorado Avalanche prospect #7 — C Joey Hishon

Mar 25, 2015; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche forward Joey Hishon (38) skates against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

As we get closer to the top five of this ranking, we also get to another player that has seen more than a few games (yet less than a lot) of NHL action — Joey Hishon. After missing the entire 2011-12 season and most of the following campaign due to a concussion, he is still on his way to bounce back. He has 16 games with the Colorado Avalanche on his record so far, where he scored on goal and recorded two assists.

Hishon looked very promising in his 13 games last season, especially when coach Patrick Roy started giving him more ice time. Nevertheless, he is likely going to start with the San Antonio Rampage in the AHL next season, while being a prime candidate for an early call-up.

NHL-ready: 2015-16

Next: Colorado Avalanche prospect #6

Colorado Avalanche prospect #6 — D Nicolas Meloche

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Nicholas Meloche was one of the Colorado Avalanche’s 2015 second round selections. He is a big, well-skating two-way defenseman who can set accents offensively and is defensively reliable as well. Is it a reach to rank him sixth among all Avalanche prospects? No. He is simply that talented.

Defensemen generally tend to take a fairly long time to develop, so do not expect Meloche in the NHL anytime soon. However, once he does make it, he can totally surpass most of the Colorado Avalanche’s left-handed defensemen that are in the system right now.

NHL-ready: 2019-20

Next: Colorado Avalanche prospect #5

Colorado Avalanche prospect #5 — C Conner Bleackley

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Red Deer Rebels captain Conner Bleackley is a very nice combination of size, skill, speed and two-way play. He is the perfect fit for the Avalanche with their new philosophy of making size a priority, which will be the reason why the Avs reached for him in the 2014 draft.

Bleackley will play in the WHL for the rest of his eligibility, before joining the AHL. It will take some time for him to make it to the NHL, but it may eventually be worth it. He has the potential to be one of the better two-way centers in the league and could be a very valuable part of the Avs’ third line for many years.

NHL-ready: 2018-19

Next: Colorado Avalanche prospect #4

Colorado Avalanche prospect #4 — C Mikhail Grigorenko

Jan 8, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Buffalo Sabres forward Mikhail Grigorenko (25) skates with puck against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Hurricanes defeated the Sabres 5-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

After Duncan Siemens at No. 8, Mikhail Grigorenko is the second mystery box. While he was ranked as the No. 4 European skater heading into the draft in 2012, off-ice issues have reportedly kept him from really succeeding so far. Add to that his threat to return to the KHL if he doesn’t play in the NHL right away and you’ve got yourself one good prospect with attitude.

Grigorenko probably has the potential to be No. 2 on this list, but isn’t because of said issues. If he gets it together in Colorado, he may be able to turn the O’Reilly trade into a big win for the Avalanche. If not, well, he will move farther down this ranking. There is a chance that he starts the season in Colorado, but could just as well start in the AHL.

NHL-ready: 2016-17

Next: Colorado Avalanche prospect #3

Colorado Avalanche prospect #3 — G Calvin Pickard

Jan 21, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard (31) warms up in net before the game against the Boston Bruins the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Calvin Pickard is one of many goaltender selections the Avalanche has made in the past drafts, while being one of the very few that actually show the ability to play in the NHL. This past season, he played 16 games in the NHL, posting a .932 save-percentage. It remains to be seen if he could keep that up over a whole season in the NHL, but the potential is definitely there.

If it wasn’t for Colorado Avalanche backup Reto Berra, Pickard would easily be the first choice to be Semyon Varlamov’s backup. However, Berra is there, Berra is on a one-way contract and Berra makes NHL money. Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy will find a way to sort it out, but where will that put Pickard for next season?

NHL-ready: 2015-16

Next: Colorado Avalanche prospect #2

Colorado Avalanche prospect #2 — D Chris Bigras

Sep 22, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Brad Winchester (55) shoots and scores past Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard (31) as defenseman Chris Bigras (57) in the first period at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Bigras is, despite just coming out of the OHL, one of the D-prospects closest to the NHL right now. He had an absolutely outstanding year with the Owen Sound Attack, recording 20 goals and 51 assists in just 62 games. In seven games with the Lake Erie Monsters in the AHL, Bigras added another four assists.

A fully developed version of Bigras is exactly what the Colorado Avalanche need as Erik Johnson’s partner right now. The problem is that Bigras is not fully developed and he will therefore likely not get anywhere near being Johnson’s partner in the close future. However, he will pick up a leadership role with the Rampage in the AHL and has good chances to see a fair bit of time in the NHL in the upcoming season already.

NHL-ready: 2016-17

Next: Colorado Avalanche prospect #1