Colorado Avalanche Prospect Profile: Getting to Know Jayson Megna

The Colorado Avalanche made some AHL-level signings during free agency. One of them was veteran forward Jayson Megna.

As is par for the course, the Colorado Avalanche made some low-key, AHL signings during Free Agency Frenzy. One of those signings was forward Jayson Megna.

Colorado signed him to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 at the NHL level and $350,000 at the AHL, where he’ll presumably play.

The 29-year-old center hails from premier hockey capital (just kidding) Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Actually, he was just born there. He grew up in a much colder, hockey-conducive climate, Northbrook, Illinois. (Also home to JT Compher.)

Indeed, Megna had a pretty good hockey upbringing. He played Pee-Wee with the Chicago Young Americans and even played in the 2003 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. The event takes place in Quebec City during the Winter Carnival as a way for under-12 players to participate in an international competition.

As a teen, Jayson played USHS-Prep hockey for Tabor Academy and USHL hockey for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. He didn’t get drafted, but he did get scouted to play college hockey at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He was even named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team.

After his freshman year, Megna attended the Pittsburgh Penguins development camp. In the summer of 2012, he signed his entry-level contract. He played the entire season with Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate. However, the next season he got his first shot at the NHL — 36 games’ worth actually. He recorded five goals and four assists in that time.

Here’s his first NHL goal:

Megna completed his two-year contract with the Penguins organization at the end of that season. They re-signed him, but he spent most of the final year in the AHL.

Once that contract ended, he was an unrestricted free agent. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers. However, as with Pittsburgh, he spent most of the time in the AHL.

His best chance came with the Vancouver Canucks. When his time with the Rangers was over, he signed a one-year, one-way deal with Vancouver. Though he started the season in the AHL, he did join the Canucks late in October. He went on to record his first multi-goal game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Here are highlights from that game:

Hey, look who else scored two goals — former Avs homeboy Jack Skille!

Anyway, that season, Megna played 58 games for Vancouver. He only recorded eight points (4 goals, 4 assists), but the Canucks liked him sell enough to extend him for another season. (They then later waived him and sent him back to the AHL.)

More from Mile High Sticking

Unfortunately, Jayson spent most of the next year, the 2017-18 season in the AHL. Judging by the fact he only played 25 games there, I’m guessing he was injured. Vancouver didn’t re-sign him, and he moved on to his fourth organization — the Washington Capitals.

We see another little Colorado connection there. Washington also signed Michael Sgarbossa during free agency last summer. Sgarbossa came to Colorado via trade during the 2011-12 season. He left via trade in 2015. He played three games for the Avalanche.

Anyway, moving back to Jayson Megna, he got waived at the beginning of the season by Washington and spent all last season in the AHL.

And now the Colorado Avalanche become his fifth hockey organization.

As I said, Jayson Megna is certain to play only for the Colorado Eagles. The 29-year-old is now the oldest player on the team, and I’m sure Colorado is looking for some veteran presence for the youngsters. At the AHL level, he’s a 30-something to 40-something point guy, including last season. So, he really can be a benefit to the Eagles.

At the time of writing, the Eagles have just 11 forwards signed. I don’t know if Colorado intends to offer contracts to any of their remaining unsigned draftees. More likely they’ll troll for some other borderline NHLers to fill out the roster.