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Colorado Avalanche: JT Compher 2019-2020 Season Outlook

By Nadia Archuleta |
DENVER, CO - MAY 02:J.T. Compher #37 of the Colorado Avalanche waits for a face off against the San Jose Sharks in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on May 2, 2019 in Denver, Colorado.(Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - MAY 02:J.T. Compher #37 of the Colorado Avalanche waits for a face off against the San Jose Sharks in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on May 2, 2019 in Denver, Colorado.(Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Colorado Avalanche forward JT Compher will want to take a step forward in his game since the team will have increased expectations.

Colorado Avalanche forward J.T. Compher is about to embark on an important season for his career. He’s coming off his entry-level contract and striding into his first standard pro contract.

And that new status comes with a hefty pay raise. For three seasons he made the standard rookie pay of $925,000. Now, he’ll be making $3.5 million for the next four seasons.

Both with that raise in pay and that amount of term, the Avalanche are making a statement. They consider him an important member of the team. But they also expect him step up his game.

So, with the Avalanche’s preseason officially in swing, let’s look at the season outlook for JT Compher.

2018-19 Stats

JT Compher upped his game last season. He continued to struggle some with injuries, so he only played 66 games. However, he still managed to record 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in the regular season. All three of those achievements are career highs for Compher.

His playoffs were better. He played in all 12 games. He recorded four goals and two assists for six points.

What’s impressive about the 24-year-old forward is the fact that he recorded three game-winning goals and three short-handed goals last season. Indeed, he even recorded two short-handed goals in the same game — on the same power play!

Compher averaged 17:29 of ice time last season, seeing time on both the power play and the penalty kill. He also had four power play goals.

Projected 2019-20 Role

JT Compher will either center the third line or play wing on the second line. I think it will be the former with his continuing to see time on the power play and penalty kill.

Besides entering his first year with a big-boy contract, Compher is also striding into his prime as a 24-year-old. I think we’ll see him reach is ceiling in the next couple years.

More Season Outlooks:

Projected 2019-20 Stats

More from Mile High Sticking

JT Compher is a player who’s responsible in all three zones. He plays the proverbial full-200, which is why he’s earned the team trust the way he has. He’s also good at scoring those clutch goals.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Compher beat his career-best again. I mean, 32 points is good, but it’s a little modest. I’d like to see him in the Carl Soderberg (49) to Alexander Kerfoot (42) range not least because we need to replace what they brought to the team.

The potential is there. Both in the regular season and the playoffs Compher was good for about half a point a game. The key is for him to have Soderberg- or Kerfoot-like seasons. Alexander played 78 games, while Carl played all 82.

Next. Highlights of Compher's Season. dark

The Colorado Avalanche veterans, including JT Compher, will be reporting for training camp physicals in just a few short days — September 12, to be exact. We’ll start getting a better look at what Compher will bring this season.

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