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Colorado Avalanche: Meet the Young Players Recalled from the Colorado Eagles

ByAdrienne Tyler|
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 4: Ryan Graves #27 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the New York Rangers at the Pepsi Center on January 4, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Rangers 6-1. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 4: Ryan Graves #27 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the New York Rangers at the Pepsi Center on January 4, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Rangers 6-1. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

With a few players out with injuries, the Colorado Avalanche recalled three young players from the Colorado Eagles. Let’s take a quick look.

Ah, to be young, playing for the AHL, and being recalled to the NHL. Not that I know what that feels like, but I can imagine. The Colorado Avalanche, like every other team in the NHL, recalls players from their affiliates whenever is needed, and if their performance is exceptional, they will stay with the team a bit longer.

However, these players more often than not end up going back to the minors, but if they were recalled once, chances are they will be recalled again soon. That said, the Colorado Avalanche have (at the time of writing) three younglings from the Colorado Eagles on the roster (without counting Tyson Jost who, in my heart, is still an Av even when playing for the Eagles. Thanks).

Let’s meet the crew:

A.J Greer

colorado avalanche
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 11: A.J. Greer #24 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Edmonton Oilers at the Pepsi Center on December 11, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)”n

Greer made the jump to professional hockey in 2016 by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche, but began his career with the San Antonio Rampage. He was recalled to the NHL for the first time on November, 2016, and has been a regular ever since.

In two regular seasons with the San Antonio Rampage (2016-2017, 2017-2018), he had a total of 51 points in 98 games. Now with the Colorado Eagles, he has 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 36 games played so far. There are reasons why he is a go-to for the Avs, you know?

However, with a total of 32 games played (at the time of writing) since 2016, and a total of five points, Greer hasn’t had his first NHL goal yet. Fingers crossed that will change very soon.

Ryan Graves

colorado avalanche
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 4: Ryan Graves #27 of the Colorado Avalanche holds the puck that was his first career NHL goal after the game against the New York Rangers at the Pepsi Center on January 4, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Rangers 6-1. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Our next youngling (yes, 23 still counts as youngling), Ryan Graves, was drafted by the New York Rangers in 2013 and traded to the Avs in February, 2018. He was then assigned to the San Antonio Rampage, where he collected six points in 21 games played.

In 32 games played with the Colorado Eagles, he has a total of nine points (two goals, seven assists). He made his NHL debut on December 27, 2018 against the Vegas Golden Knights and tallied his first points on January 4 against the New York Rangers, with one goal and one assist.

Graves has three points in 13 games played so far with the Avs, and not be dramatic, but please keep him. He’s a good one.

Dominic Toninato

DENVER, CO – JANUARY 23: Dominic Toninato #47 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center on January 23, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Wild defeated the Avalanche 5-2. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 23: Dominic Toninato #47 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center on January 23, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Wild defeated the Avalanche 5-2. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Toninato was drafted in 2012 by the Toronto Maple Leafs, but after his rights were dropped by the Leafs after the August 2017 deadline, he signed to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche just two days later.

He was assigned to the San Antonio Rampage for the 2017-2018 and got 12 points (seven goals five assists) in 31 games played. He made his NHL debut on November 18, 2017, and got two points in 37 games played with the Avs.

Now with the Colorado Eagles, Toninato has 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 37 games played, and was recalled this week for the first time this season. And what do you know: our very dear Dom got his first NHL goal on Valentine’s Day, against the Winnipeg Jets. Can’t get any better than that.

In total, Toninato has played 38 games in the NHL, and hopefully, we will see him as part of the Avs roster very soon.

The younglings are working hard at the AHL – they are not recalled just to fill in a spot, you know? They are talented, they are skilled, and I really hope we get to see them as part of the Colorado Avalanche’s roster in a near future, and not just when a player is unable to play.

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