The Colorado Avalanche have a deep prospect pool that can yield NHL-level talent even as soon as this upcoming season.
The Colorado Avalanche have done a good job of building up their talent pool. They have a good crop of young players on the Colorado Eagles roster who are just vying for their chance at the big team.
For this post, I’m not going to consider any players who have NHL experience. That takes Cale Makar and Vladislav Kamenev out. Instead, I’m going to look just at players chomping at the bit.
Now, there’s no sense that these players have a real chance of making the roster out of training camp, though they might. (Except for number five, who will be away at college.) However, they are the players whom the team will be watching most closely in camp. (Again, sans five.)
And one or two just might make opening night.
Below I have them ranked in order of likelihood of playing in the NHL this next year.
1. Bowen Byram, Defenseman
Defenseman Bo Byram was the Colorado Avalanche’s fourth-overall selection in this year’s draft. He’s played the last two seasons in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants. In that time, he’s recorded 98 points (32 goals, 66 assists) in 127 games. No wonder he was drafted so highly.
The Avs signed Byram to an entry-level contract this summer. It’s expected he’ll be under scrutiny for NHL-readiness through the camps and preseason. It’s thought he may play his full nine games in the NHL regular season to see if he’s ready to make the jump. If not, he’ll return to the Giants.
He turned 18 just before the draft.
2. Conor Timmins, Defenseman
Defenseman Conor Timmins shouldn’t be on this list. He should have been disqualified because of NHL experience. However, concussion symptoms derailed his season last year.
That said, he spent a lot of time with both the Avalanche and the Eagles, getting into the flow of professional hockey. Prior to that, he had excellent success with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL.
Timmins was Colorado’s #32 draft pick from 2017, and the Avs were lucky he was still available. He’s said to be healed from his concussion symptoms and even participated fully in the prospect development camp scrimmage. He might have an even better chance of making the NHL team than Byram.
Timmins is 20.
3. Martin Kaut, Center
The Avalanche selected center Martin Kaut #16 overall in 2018. He had to have a procedure done on his heart, but he’s been healthy every since. The team signed him to his entry-level contract last summer.
The Czech-born and -trained Kaut spent the whole year in the AHL last season, ostensibly learning the North American game. He didn’t have the most stellar of seasons — 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) in 63 games. However, remember that he was still learning the NHL game and getting back into conditioning after missing a summer of training.
Kaut is 19.
4. Shane Bowers, Center
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Center Shane Bowers is the only player on this list whom the Colorado Avalanche didn’t draft. Rather, the Ottawa Senators drafted him #28 overall in 2017 and traded him to Colorado as part of the Matt Duchene deal.
Bowers played two seasons for Boston University. He put up great numbers his freshman year — 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 40 games. The following season his numbers were average — 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 37 games.
Nonetheless, Colorado signed him to his entry-level deal at the conclusion of Boston’s season. Probably at this point he’s looking to be a first call-up sort of player.
Bowers is 20.
5. Alex Newhook, Center
The Colorado Avalanche selected Alex Newhook this summer with the #16 pick. The center spent the last two seasons playing for the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL.
He put up outstanding numbers with the Grizzlies. His first season was 66 points (22 goals, 44 assists) in 45 games. Last year, he recorded 102 points (38 goals, 64 assists) in 52 games.
Newhook will not make the NHL roster or even the rookie camp because he’s promised to Boston College next year. However, he’s an exciting prospect, and I’m convinced he’ll make the NHL team eventually.
Newhook is 18.
The Colorado Avalanche’s Rookie Camp is likely to start around September 6, so we’ll be able to see most of these prospects in under a month.