Colorado Avalanche Prospect Profile: Josh Anderson
The Colorado Avalanche have signed their third-round selection from 2016, Josh Anderson, to an entry-level contract. Here is pertinent information about the prospect.
Defenseman Josh Anderson is a Colorado Avalanche third-round draft pick from 2016, having gone #71 overall. He signed his entry-level contract on March 29, 2018, just a few weeks before he helped his WHL team, the Swift Current Broncos, claim their first Memorial Cup in 25 years.
Anderson’s entry-level contract doesn’t take effect until the beginning of the 2018-19 season. He’s expected to play for the Avalanche’s AHL-affiliate Colorado Eagles.
Josh Anderson’s contract is the standard three-year, entry-level affair. He has $85,000 due to him as a signing bonus in 2018-19 and $80,000 each for the next two years. While his NHL annual average value is $816,666, his cap hit is $765,000 — he has up to $115,000 in performance bonuses next season and an additional $20,000 possible the next two seasons.
At the AHL level, he can earn $70,000 per season.
Josh Anderson Statistics
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Age: 19
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225 lbs.
Josh Anderson spent the majority of his WHL career with the Prince George Cougars. He played 133 games total, recording 5 goals and 19 assists. Midway through the 2017-18 season, he got traded to the Swift Current Broncos. In 29 games with them, he recorded 2 goals and 5 assists. En route to the Memorial Cup, Anderson played 26 games.
Josh Anderson is a big, stocky player. He’s not known for being an offensive defenseman. Obviously, he’s more comfortable playing the also important shut-down role. Indeed, he’s more of the Mason Geertsen style of player, a heavy hitting defensive defenseman.
Josh Anderson and the Colorado Avalanche
Fun fact: The Columbus Blue Jackets have their own Josh Anderson, spelled exactly the same way, which makes researching our prospect all the more fun.
In any case, I can’t speak to their Josh Anderson, but our Josh Anderson was not exactly a popular pick for the third round. I find that’s usually the case with shut-down players. These days it feels like you want your first four rounds to be all puck-moving goal scorers, whether forwards or defensemen.
It’s like fans, pundits and sports writers want the Colorado Avalanche to find an Adam Foote in the fifth round, when the original went 22nd overall.
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Anyway, I’m not going to suggest Josh Anderson is the next Adam Foote. I’m not even going to suggest he’ll make the NHL team. He got sent back to his major juniors team pretty quickly last preseason.
That said, I wasn’t even sure Josh Anderson would be offered an NHL contract, and here he is with his three-year, entry-level deal. Yes, he may spend the majority of his time at the AHL level, but at least he has a chance to prove himself useful.
During this year’s Prospect Development Camp, all the prospects got asked at least a few questions. Anderson talked a lot about building team chemistry as well as community chemistry during his interview. That kind of leadership is something that I’m sure the Colorado Avalanche coaching staff will be looking for.
OTHER COLORADO AVALANCHE PROSPECT PROFILES:
I imagine Josh Anderson will participate in the Rookie Faceoff, which takes place in Vegas from September 4 to 11. After than, he’s sure to attend the Colorado Avalanche’s rookie and training camps. Here are the moments for the 20-year-old to shine.