Colorado Avalanche: Best Tweets from Prospect Development Camp Day 1

The Colorado Avalanche’s  development camp gave prospects a chance to experience some aspects of NHL life — such as training and drills.

The Colorado Avalanche held their annual prospect development camp from June 28 to July 2. June 28 was taken up with physicals and media availability with the prospects. July 2, as hoped, consisted of a team-building activity — which I’ll cover in a separate post because it was pretty cool.

During prospect development camp, the Avalanche’s prospects got a chance to experience training with NHL-level coaches. They get to work on the same ice that the NHL players use. They also get some specialty fitness and even nutrition classes.

All of Colorado’s draftees, regardless of contract status, are invited to participate in the camp. This year, of the eligible players, only three didn’t attend — Danila Zhuravlyov (defenseman), Shamil Shmakov (goalie) and Nicky Leivermann (defenseman).

Anyway, I was only able to attend the morning activities of Day 1, which I chronicled here:

Related Story: Impressions from Prospect Development Camp

The Colorado Avalanche Twitter account, however, did a much more thorough — and focused — job.

Day 1

It started out with a roster of the players.

After all, these are kids the Avs have drafted in the last couple years, plus a few amateur tryouts. We can be forgiven for not recognizing them immediately.
Next up we have Travis Barron participating in a drill:

Barron was our 2016 seventh rounder — he’s already signed to his entry-level contract and even helped the Colorado Eagles win the Kelly Cup.

Sampo Ranta apparently channels his inner Mikko Rantanen:

Colorado selected Ranta in the third round, 78th overall.

Prospects also worked with Tracy Tutton, the skating coach Colorado has been bringing to development camp the last three years:

Number 80 is Brandon Saigeon, whom Colorado picked in this year’s draft in the fifth round.

Here is goalie coach Jussi Parkkila working with Pavel Francouz in net:

The Avs signed Francouz in May as an undrafted free agent. The 28-year-old has spent his entire career playing in Europe, but he’ll be starting with the Eagles this year.

Here’s Nick Henry in action:

The Avalanche selected Henry in the fourth round of the 2017 draft. I was excited they snagged him because he was scouted to go as high as the second round. He’s probably going to spend another year developing in the WHL with the Regina pats.

For some reason, Martin Kaut did not participate in the first morning session. However, he played in the afternoon three-on-three tournament and was involved in all the other sessions.

Kaut’s “benching:”

I’m alarmed and annoyed that Conor Timmins was unable to participate because he was recuperating from a concussion he received in Game 5 of the Robertson Cup Finals.

Here’s more about that situation:

Related Story: What Happened to Conor Timmins?

Post-practice head shots:

In the afternoon, Colorado Avalanche prospects worked on some drills and three-on-three play.

Number 63 is Logan O’Connor, an amateur tryout.

Here’s someone we can all recognize, Cale Makar:

Naturally, Cale is the player the Colorado Avalanche selected fourth-overall in 2017.

Here’s Tyler Weiss scoring a goal in a drill:

Weiss (pronounced the American way, so it rhymes with peace) was Colorado’s fourth-rounder. He had an impressive camp. However, I expect he’ll return to the US National Development Team for more, you know, development.

Sampo Ranta hotdogging it:

I’m starting to really like this kid. He’s heading to the University of Wisconsin to play next year. I imagine the Colorado Avalanche will be watching his development closely.

Like I said, this year’s first rounder, Martin Kaut, got onto the ice eventually:

Martin Kaut is expected to play for the Colorado Eagles next season, though he hasn’t signed his contract yet.

Here’s some scrimmage:

That wrapped up Day 1 of the Colorado Avalanche’s prospect development camp.