Colorado Avalanche: Evaluating Late Round Picks

Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks on stage before the start of the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks on stage before the start of the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
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Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Tyson Jost poses for a photo after being selected as the number ten overall draft pick by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Avalanche made some surprising choices in the 2016 NHL draft. Meet the new team hopefuls

There’s choosing off the board, and then there’s what the Colorado Avalanche did at the 2016 NHL Draft. Already by the third round I had no idea who it was the team was picking.

Actually, their second round pick, Cameron Morrison, was a player I was hoping they’d select in the third round. At least I though he’d make a good selection for the Avalanche.

Some Colorado fans think the team is selecting with advanced stats in mind. As the prospects chosen in the 2016 NHL draft won’t make much of a splash in the NHL for a couple years, if at all, we’ll have to wait to see if that strategy worked out well for the Avalanche.

In any case, GM Joe Sakic and head coach Patrick Roy, who work in conjunction to run the team, have a vision. They’re having to refill the prospect pool while trying to make the current team competitive. Already with their #10 selection of forward Tyson Jost, it’s clear they’re using the 2016 NHL draft for the former.

In any case, let’s get to know the later round picks for the Colorado Avalanche and how they can fit with the team’s vision.

Next: Josh Anderson