Colorado Avalanche Prospect Tyson Jost Seems Likely to Stay Another Year in College

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
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 have yet to announce a contract signing with Tyson Jost; the longer he stays unsigned, it becomes more likely that he returns to college for another season.

The Colorado Avalanche are in desperate need of offensive help in their top six; however, that help seems unlikely to come in the form of Tyson Jost next season.

Jost’s teammate Brock Boeser, played his final NCAA game in a double overtime loss on Friday night, and by Saturday at midday, he was on the ice for the Canucks and already making an impact. He scored a goal in his first game, and helped lead the Canucks to a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild.

The Vancouver Canucks are by no means going to make the playoffs, but they decided to get Boeser on their roster for their final games anyway. He’s freshly twenty years old, and not even a year older than Tyson Jost, so why haven’t the Avs signed Jost yet, right?

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Well, Boeser played two years at the University of North Dakota before leaving for the NHL, and Jost is likely to do the same. Jost was drafted 13 spots before Boeser in their respective drafts, but UND is known for developing NHL talent, and that talent almost always stays at the university for at least two years.

For example, Jonathan Toews was drafted No. 3 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2006, and even he stayed for two years.

So, for those hoping to see Jost in an Avalanche uniform next season, don’t bet on it. Furthermore, letting him develop for one more year might be a good thing for him, and the Avs.

The Pros and Cons of Tyson Jost Staying for Another Season at UND

Tyson Jost will be the best player at the University of North Dakota next season. He will be their star, and therefore will have the opportunity to grow into a leadership position for the team.

He will also be depended on to put up points, which will put him in a position to grow even more offensively.

So, if he goes back for another season, he is certain to take another step in his development. If he does that, he will be prepared to make the jump straight to the NHL after his NCAA season is over.

He could most likely play in the NHL already, but another year of development at UND will solidify his ability to contribute at the highest level.

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Those are some pretty good pros for the Avalanche, and with that in mind what could the cons possibly be?

It’s simple really, the Avs do not have enough top six talent currently on their team. They are also likely to lose some of that talent this summer with a departure of Matt Duchene via trade.

So, they could use all the talent they can get in the top six. I’m not saying that Tyson Jost would help the team make the playoffs next season; however, he would certainly be a welcome addition to a team sorely lacking top six talent.

Conclusion

I’m sure that Tyson Jost has already been approached by the Colorado Avalanche about signing a contract. At this point, he’s probably mulling over his options, and what decision is going to be the best for his development.

His ultimate goal is to play in the NHL, but that’s not a decision that can be rushed. He also wants to be impactful at that level, so making choices to ensure that he is should obviously be his main desire.

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The Colorado Avalanche are certainly in need of his services, but they should not rush those services. He will be more impactful at the NHL level with one more year of development under his belt.

Here’s to a good season at UND next year for Tyson Jost. Here’s to seeing him in an Avalanche sweater at the conclusion of that season. Good luck Josty.