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Colorado Avalanche: JT Compher’s Projected Role on the Team

By Nadia Archuleta

WINNIPEG, MB - FEBRUARY 16: Tyson Jost
WINNIPEG, MB - FEBRUARY 16: Tyson Jost /
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As the Colorado Avalanche continue their youth movement, some of the young players may stand out as the heir of veteran players’ roles.

With the Colorado Avalanche youth movement in full swing, I’ve been thinking a little bit about the young players’ roles on the team. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about who some of the veteran players’ “heir apparent” is — the player who will eventually take on more of the veteran’s role.

And I’ve gotten to thinking about J.T. Compher and how much he reminds me of Carl Soderberg.

JT Compher vs Carl Soderberg

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JT Compher, of course, is younger than Carl Soderberg — 23 years old vs 32 years old. Naturally, with that comes a big difference in experience — 400 NHL games for Soderberg, just 90 for Compher. However, Soderberg spent several years in his 20s playing in Sweden, so the NHL difference isn’t as vast as you’d usually expect.

How they came to the team was also similar but different. They both came in trade. However, the Colorado Avalanche traded a sixth-round pick to the Boston Bruins just before Free Agency Frenzy so they’d have exclusive negotiating rights with Carl Soderberg. JT Compher was part of the Ryan O’Reilly trade, and he spent an additional season at college before he even joined the team.

Size-wise, they’re also similar but different. Soderberg is the bigger player — 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. Compher isn’t too far behind at 6-foot, 193 pounds. (If you look at the headline picture, though, the difference seems bigger.)

Confession: At a glance, I get the two mixed up. It doesn’t help that they both wear 30-something numbers — 34 for Soderberg and 37 for Compher. Those just aren’t numbers I’m going to remember. Plus, though Soderberg is somewhat blonder, they’re both some level of ginger.

Anyway, let’s look at some of the more in-depth hockey comparisons of the two players.

Compher and Soderberg Playing Style

Last season, Compher played 69 games, mostly on the second line. He recorded 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points. He averaged 16 minutes of playing time. His faceoff percentage was 45.1%, and he had a 16:13 takeaway to giveaway ratio. His CorsiFor was 48% with a relative Corsi of 0.3.

Soderberg played 77 games, primarily on the third line. He recorded 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points. He averaged 17 minutes of playing time. His faceoff percentage was 45.3%, and he had a 41:14 takeaway to giveaway ratio. His CorsiFor was 46.1% with a relative Corsi of -2.1.

Well, I was highly impressed with Carl Soderberg’s giveaway to takeaway ratio. He had almost three times as many takeaways as giveaways. However, Compher’s wasn’t bad for a rookie’s, especially one who saw time on the penalty kill. And his Corsi was better than Soderberg’s.

JT Compher is scouted as a “versatile two-way forward with some upside.” He’s not considered to have ideal NHL size, but he’s a solid two-way player who can line up as either center or wing. One of his defining characteristics is his leadership.

Carl Soderberg is scouted as a “versatile forward.” He’s not known as a goal scorer. However, he is known for his intelligence and two-way acumen as well as his “set-up skills.” I’d add responsible to that list after seeing his giveaway-takeaway ratio.

JT Compher’s Future Role

I came into this post thinking of JT Compher as Carl Soderberg’s heir apparent, and I haven’t changed that estimation.

For this post, I asked our resident Compher expert, Callie Agnew, to weigh in on his future role on the team. She thinks he’ll be a second- or third-line center. she observed that the coaching staff was comfortable playing him at key moments, including power play, penalty kills, ends of games and overtime.

Here’s how she further scouted his playing ability:

"“He is smart with the puck and good defensively. He blocked 65 shots in 69 games last season, so he is willing to sacrifice the body. He was second among centers in faceoff percentage behind Soderberg. If he gets with the correct linemates (Sven Andrighetto was my favorite combo), he is a good set up man with great vision on the ice. His shot doesn’t look like much but  it can be deceptive. He needs to get more consistent with his scoring, which is why third line center. If he does get more consistent I would go second line center.”"

Callie has a good eye. Compher’s CorsiFor% with Sven Andrighetto was 52.92 — it was the best he played.

Next. Compher a Craft, Calculating Player. dark

I still see Compher as Soderberg’s heir apparent on the checking line but with the augmented duties that Callie outlined — power play, penalty kill, overtime, and end of game.

What’s more, I thought of Compher as the captain of the rookies last season. I see him taking on more and more leadership duties with the Colorado Avalanche. I don’t know if he’ll ever be rewarded with a letter, but I think he’ll always be thought of as a team leader, the kind of guy the other players listen to in the locker room.

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