Colorado Avalanche: Analysis of the 3 Picks in Rounds 5 to 7

The Colorado Avalanche finished out the 2019 NHL Draft with three selections, one each in rounds five to seven.

The Colorado Avalanche completed their 2019 NHL draft haul by choosing three players in the final three rounds. In all, Colorado had eight picks in this year’s draft:

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

Of course, the Avs had two selections in the first round. The first was from Ottawa and, again, it should have been the first-overall because the Senators finished dead last. Alas, we fell to fourth-overall again.

It’s ok, though, because the Chicago Blackhawks surprisingly selected Kirby Dach. That left us with the top-rated defenseman in the draft, Bowen Byram.

With the second selection of the first round, Colorado didn’t get as lucky — Cole Caufield was dropping fast, but Montreal snapped him up at #15. However, they still got a very good player in center Alex Newhook.

Drafting got a little wonky in the middle. While their #47 pick, Drew Helleson, wasn’t completely off the board, they were stretching a little low. With #63, Matthew Stienburg, they went way off board. To the point I think they got their third and fifth rounders mixed up.

Word on the street (AJ Haefele of BSN) is the Blues may have stolen the player, center Nikita Alexandrov, Colorado really wanted at #62. Maybe the Predators took their favored second-rounder,  Egor Afanasyev.

With their #140 selection, they picked right wing Sasha Mutala. They were back on the board. At #171, Colorado selected an overage player, Luka Burzan, another forward. They finished off with a good goalie prospects, Trent Miner.

Sasha Mutala, #140

2018-19 Team: Tri-City Americans ( WHL )
Date of Birth: May 6, 2001 (18 years old)
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 196 lbs.
Position: Right wing
Shoots: Right

Ranked #69 by FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
Ranked #140 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #79 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #88 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM

The Colorado Avalanche picked up another winger with their sixth selection of the 2019 NHL Draft. Right wing Sasha Mutala was ranked a bit higher — in the third and fourth rounds — by most scouts.

The Vancouver native started the 2016-17 season playing BCMML hockey before transitioning to the WHL with the Tri-City Americans. In 2017-18 he recorded 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 68 games. Last year he played 65 games and recorded 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists).

That’s a nice jump there. And, interestingly, here’s another good-sized player.

Here’s what Cam Robinson of Dobber Prospects said of Mutala:

“The Vancouver-native brings a hard-working approach to the rink each night. Has quick acceleration and excellent top-end speed. This helps him cause havoc on the forecheck and create turnovers. Has a heavy and quick release.”

Bill Placzek of Draft Site says the following:

“Physical player who dominated the U-17 who can cut and stop / start on a dime. Not the most skilled or big forward but simply is the best one by way of his sixty minute relentless effort. Strong enough to deliver one hand passes. Will fire while on the move, and has good hand-eye and redirects many pucks. Strong poke-checker and can bring the puck out of his end. He creates disruptions with his heavy forecheck. Excels in the high traffic areas whether he has the puck or not. High hockey IQ and a nose for the net, he needs to improve his defensive zone recognition. “

I see what Colorado likes in this player. He’s got the speed. He’s got strength, and he a very hard worker.

Here are some nice highlights from Mutala’s last season:

Trent Miner

2018-19 Team: Vancouver Giants ( WHL )
Date of Birth: Feb 5 2001 (18 years old)
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 181 lbs.
Position: Goalie
Catches: Left

Ranked #66 by FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
Ranked #97 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #6 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Goalies)

I was a little surprised to see the Colorado Avalanche select a goalie in this year’s draft. They chose two last year, one in the third round and one with their final selection. They also selected a goalie the previous two drafts — all of these players are still in the Avs’ system.

Ah, well, it appears Trent Miner may well have been the best player available. He was scouted to go around the fifth round, and he dropped all the way to the seventh.

Miner certainly had a good season last year. He played 32 games, recording a 1.98 goals against average and .924 save percentage. He was teammates with our fourth-overall selection, Bowen Byram.

According to The Hockey Writers, Miner’s biggest attribute is his hockey sense, so this selection starts making sense for Colorado. Here’s what else the site says:

“He anticipates passes, which allows him to always seem to be in position. He always knows what’s going on in his end, which is a big attribute to have. His puck handling is among the best of his draft class and he plays a very technically-sound game.”

The site does acknowledge that size and speed aren’t his biggest attributes, and he may need to work on that.

Corey Pronman of The Athletic likes what he sees in Trent Miner:

“He’s not the biggest goalie, but I like everything else about his game. His hockey sense is outstanding. He reads the play so well with a great awareness of what’s going on around him. Miner never seems out of position. He challenges at the right time and moves with the puck with near perfect timing without much extra movement. He’s not the quickest goalie, which you’d like to see at his size, but he moves around the crease more than fine and can make the tough saves.”

Pronman does say that this year’s draft had an “above-average goalie crop,” so that might be why Colorado didn’t want to be left out.

Side note: The Calgary Flames picked goalie Dustin Wolf with the #214 selection, which is just three away from the end of the whole draft. He and his whole family were in attendance, and he got the biggest cheer from them when his name was called. It was a touching moment.

The head of Future Considerations’ Western Canadian scouting had this to say of Trent Miner:

Athletic, consistent, good hockey sense — again, I see why Colorado might have been drawn.

Here’s Trent Miner in action:

Seven-Round Draft Analysis

So, the Colorado Avalanche got a haul this year. They drafted five forwards two defensemen, and a goalie.

Here’s what they got:

#4: Bowen Byram, D
#16: Alex Newhook, C
#47: Drew Helleson, D
#63: Matthew Stienburg, C/RW
#78: Alex Beaucage, RW/LW
#140: Sasha Mutala, RW
#171: Luka Burzan, C
#202: Trent Miner, G

As we know, Bowen Byram is almost certain to make the team and make a big impact on the team. There’s talk of his coming into training camp looking to make the team next season.

I’m not a fan of that — Colorado has rushed players before (Tyson Jost), and we see how that’s going. There’s no reason to rush Byram, especially since he’s a defensemen. They notoriously take longer to develop, and Colorado is stacked in that position.

I don’t love picking players who played in a league below major juniors, which brings us to Alex Newhook. They pretty much drafted him right where he was scouted to go, though. What’s more, he’s slated to attend Boston College next season. Hopefully he’ll get a couple years of good development there.

As noted, the next couple selections were a little off-board and then way off-board. I think their second-rounder, Drew Helleson, could be an eventual bottom-pairing, seventh defenseman for Colorado. I don’t see Matthew Stienburg ever even getting an entry-level contract.

I’m pretty excited about the next three selections. All three forwards have decent size and did a lot of scoring last year in their major juniors teams. These are players Colorado loves to sign to entry-level contracts, say, a year after drafting them. They then get to fight for roster spots between the ECHL, AHL, and NHL teams — hey, that’s how it goes in pro sports.

Finally, we have our goalie. Trent Miner has a fair amount of competition to even get into the system. However, he does have the chops. I like that Colorado has gotten stacked again in goalie prospects.

Overall, I like this draft year. There weren’t any picks I absolutely hated — even Stienburg. Hey, the kid could surprise us all. I think Colorado continues to fill the coffers. Realistically, I see the two first-rounders getting contracts and making the NHL. Of the others… it just all depends on how their development progresses. A few of the players (Newhook, Helleson, Stienburg) are already promised to play in college, so that’s promising for their development.

Now we have the Prospect Development Camp to look forward to. Here’s the full on-ice schedule:

• Wednesday, June 26: 8:15 to 12:30 (four groups)
• Wednesday, June 26: 3:00 to 4:30 (all)
• Thursday, June 27: 1:00 to 5:15 (four groups)
• Friday, June 28: 8:15 to 12:30 (four groups)

The Colorado Avalanche will also conduct a 3-on-3 tournament at EPIC in Fort Collins.