Colorado Avalanche: 5 Late Rounders who Might have NHL Careers

DENVER, CO - JUNE 26: Colorado Avalanche announce the 2017 NHL draft picks on June 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Pepsi Center. Left to right are Nick Leivermann, Denis Smirnov, Conor Timmins, Alan Hepple, Colorado Avalanche Director of Scouting, first round pick Cale Makar and Nick Henry. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 08: Denis Smirnov #25 of the Penn State Nittany Lions skates in the third period during the game against the Robert Morris Colonials at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 8, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Denis Smirnov

Position: Left wing
Year drafted: 2017
Round picked: 6th round, 156th overall
Age: 21

The Colorado Avalanche chose Denis Smirnov as an overage draft pick in the 2017 NHL Draft — he was already 20 years old at the time. He’d also already spent a year at Penn State University, recording 47 points (19 goals, 28 assists) in 39 games his freshman year. He returned to college last season, though a late slump lead to lower points — 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 30 games.

Smirnov displays flashes of the kind of elite skills Colorado prizes — he can deke and dangle, and he’s got skating chops. He’s also known for having good ice vision.

Smirnov attended the Prospect Development Camp, but his NCAA duties mean he won’t be attending the Rookie Faceoff or the Rookie Camp. He has two more college years to hone his skills enough to win a professional contract.

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