Colorado Avalanche: Perfect 7-Round Draft Scenario

The Colorado Avalanche are stacked with picks for the 2019 NHL Draft. Here’s how I’d like to see them played out.

The Colorado Avalanche have picks in every round except the fourth this year — Colorado sent that to the Predators in exchange for Colin Wilson. The Avs actually have five selections in the first three rounds.

In other words, the Avalanche can stock the cupboards pretty well at the 2019 NHL Draft. Here is the full list of draft picks the team has:

#4 (from Ottawa)
#16
#47
#63 (also from Ottawa)
#78
#140
#171
#202

It’s so good to see five of those picks come in the first 100 selections.

Colorado Avalanche director of amateur scouting, Alan Hepple, was pretty succinct in what the team was looking for in this draft — speed, skill, and IQ. Concerning the last, Colorado wants players who can think the game as fast as they can play it.

He also mentioned that they expect to have to develop one or two of those qualities with their draft picks, especially the lower-level guys.

Looking at the Colorado Avalanche’s roster and prospect pool, and keeping in mind how events have played out the last couple years, I’d say to make size a deciding factor. If you were choosing between two prospects, I’d go for the bigger one.

To be clear, size isn’t the main quality, and I’m aware it’s not something the team is emphasizing right now. I’m emphasizing it because teams with bigger players are winning series and championships.

Anyway, with those qualities in mind, here’s how I think a perfect draft would look for the Colorado Avalanche. I’m not looking at what other teams are likely to pick except to note certain players won’t be available when the Avs select.

Bowen Byram is the top-rated defenseman in the 2019 NHL Draft. He’s scouted to go third or fourth and to drop no lower than sixth.

Byram hits all three of Colorado’s requirements. He’s known for being an excellent skater with good balance and explosiveness. He’s also known for being an adept puck handler, with creativity and defensive astuteness.

The Avs, like all teams, will choose “best player available” when it’s their turn on the podium. However, there is some subjectivity within that designation. I’d prefer Byram over a similarly “BPA,” Alex Turcotte or Kirby Dach, because I’d like to see Colorado continue to get more gifted at the blueline.

Why can’t the defensive corps be our crown jewel along with the top line?

Also, please note — Byram is 6-foot, 194 pounds, so not exactly a behemoth. But he’s the best choice for Colorado’s #4.

Cole Caufield is tiny — 5-foot-7, 163 pounds — so that proves I’m not emphasizing size when other qualities are more prevalent.

Caufield’s main quality is he’s a goal-scoring fiend. The kid just loves to put the puck in the net, and I’m here for that. He scored a ridiculous 101 goals last season and capped that off with 14 goals at World Juniors U18.

As with Byram, Caufield hits all three the main qualities Colorado is looking for. Plus, as I noted his his draft profile, he’s bound to grow an inch or two and pack on some muscle weight.

Cole is scouted to go as high as #8, but he could drop down to #18. If he’s there at #16, I’d like to see Colorado pick up a player who loves to score as much as Caufield — and who has such a knack for it.

Yep, Nolan Foote is Adam Foote’s son, and, yep, that’s part of what made him so irresistible to me at this spot. He’s #37 on Central Scouting’s list of North American skaters, so it’s not inconceivable he’d be available at #47.

Besides being the son of an Avs great, Nolan Foote is scouted as being a “big, strong forward who advances the puck well and has a strong, heavy wrist shot,” according to Bill Placzek of Draft Site. And, yep, he’s big (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) so that checks my personal box. But in addition to having that offensive skill, he’s also scouted as smart and a great skater.

You also imagine he knows how to play the game right. His dad would make sure of that.

Here is the first place I’m going to implement my size qualification. I was trying to choose between Michal Teply and Oleg Zaitsev. Both are scouted about the same, but Teply comes in at a resounding 6-foot-3, 187 pounds. Plus, I think by this time Colorado will be jonesing for a European player.

Teply is ranked #14 among European skaters by Central Scouting, and he’s the top-ranked Czech player. He’s ranked as high as #46 and as low as #85.

Placzek describes Teply as a big winger with soft hands. Bill also states that Michal is gaining more confidence, especially in his vision, and that his skating has improved.

The Hockey Writers say this about Michal Teply:

“He’s a big, goal-scoring winger with raw talent that is worth the gamble from an NHL team. If a team is willing to be patient with him, he could end up being a steal in the draft.”

You know what? The Colorado Avalanche are playing with house money on this pick — it’s the last gift from the Matt Duchene trade. Why not take a little gamble in the hopes you get a big return?

About this time I’d like to see the Colorado Avalanche pick another defenseman to keep that prospect pool deep. Gianni Fairbrother is a player who will need some developing, but he’s already making good strides. In the 2017-18 season he had 5 points (2 gals 3 assists) with the WHL Everett Silvertips. Last season he jumped to 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists).

Fairbrother isn’t a big defenseman– 6-foot, 194 pounds. However, he missed the cutoff for last year’s draft by 15 days, so he’s just a little bit older and more mature.

According to the WHL draft profile, Fairbrother is a hard worker who’s shown especial improvement in his play with the puck.

He’s ranked #50 by Central Scouting as is expected to go right around Colorado’s #78 selection. I think he could continue developing at major juniors a couple more years and ultimately be a depth defenseman for Colorado.

The Colorado Avalanche like to take flyers on European skaters later in the draft. By the fifth round, which is where this pick falls, BPA is so subjective anyway. Arseni Gritsyuk is ranked #49 for European skaters. He’s expected to go late fourth, early fifth, so he may not be available at #140.

If he is, though, he’d be a great grab by Colorado. The Russian right wing is a little guy — 5-foot-10, 168 pounds — but he can play. Bill Placzek calls him an “elusive  and tight edged little left winger with speed and top end stick handling savvy while at top gear.” Bill sees a lot to admire in how Gritsyuk skates and plays the game.

Arseni really would be a gem at #140.

Arseni Gritsyuk in action:

For the Colorado Avalanche’s last selection of the 2019 NHL Draft, I decided to indulge my wish for a big, fat defenseman. Ok, the 18-year-old Jackson van de Leest is unlikely to be any kind of fat, but he’s big at 6-foot-6, 223 pounds. That’s a whole lot of defenseman.

He’s not just a big bruiser either. He’s been playing with the WHL Calgary Hitmen for the last two seasons. Last year he recorded 21 points in 67 games — not bad for a defenseman who’s ranked #138 by Central Scouting and whom Future Considerations ranks at #207.

Ok, he’s also kind of a big bruiser:

And:

Well, this is a seventh-round selection. Colorado only has one of their recent seventh-rounders signed — Travis Barron from 2016.

And anyway, I’d like to see the Avalanche at least attempt to add some size and grit in a player who’s doing pretty ok in the WHL. You never know when a late rounder might pan out — Dustin Byfuglien and Joe Pavelski were both seventh rounders, and they worked out just fine.

The 2019 NHL Draft takes place in Vancouver on June 21 and 22. The listed start time is  pm MT for the first round on Friday.