Colorado Avalanche: Brandon Saigeon to Play for Eagles

One of the Colorado Avalanche’s draft picks from last summer, Brandon Saigeon, has signed to play with the Colorado Eagles.

Colorado Avalanche draftee Brandon Saigeon has signed a contract to play with the AHL-affiliate Colorado Eagles next season. Colorado selected the center as an overage player in the 2018 NHL Draft, choosing him #140 (fifth round).

Saigeon spent three-and-a-half seasons playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL. The Bulldogs traded him at the deadline last season to the Oshawa Generals, who were in the midst of a playoff push. The Generals played 15 games but fell short of making the Memorial Cup.

Saigeon’s draft season, 2017-18, was phenomenal. He scored 70 points (35 goals, 35 assists) in 65 games. Last season was even better. Between the two teams, Brandon earned 92 points (37 goals, 55 assists) in 68 games.

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Saigeon joined both last year’s and this year’s prospect development camp, and he shined in both outings. Last year he also attended the Rookie Showcase in Vegas as well as rookie camp, again shining in both.

So, why didn’t the team just sign him to an entry-level contract outright? It’s hard to say. He lingered in the preseason last year, and it looked pretty good the team would sign him before sending him back to the OHL.

If Colorado signed him this year, they’d have to ink him to a three-year deal because of his age. However, there’s no reason to hesitate in doing that. They have the cap space, and he’s likely to play for the Eagles anyway, where his salary wouldn’t count against the cap.

Saigeon’s AHL contract is for one year. Colorado could still sign him after next season to an entry-level contract. Because of his age then, they’d only have to offer two years.

What difference does it make? This year they can’t call him up, I believe, because he’s only on an AHL contract. Are they just testing him out at the pro level? But that’s what they do with all their draftees, whom they do sign to ELCs. Right now they have four late-round draft picks playing in the AHL.

Anyway, this has nothing to do with Brandon Saigeon, but let the record show that Martin Kaut never skips leg day:

Moving back to Brandon Saigeon, I liked what I saw when I saw him at all the camps and did my best to watch the Rookie Showcase. (The feed was glitchy as all getout.)

We’ll see what the Colorado Avalanche decide to do with Saigeon. Right now they seem pretty set on only using their high draft picks and selecting the rest either in free agency or via trade.