Colorado Avalanche: 5 Questions for Training Camp

1. Will Bo Byram Translate Rookie Faceoff Success to Regular Training Camp?

Defenseman Bowen Byram was a darling of the rookie tournament games. He played two of the three Rookie Faceoff games, and words like “dominant” were attached to his name.

Colorado selected Byram with Ottawa’s fourth-overall pick. It wasn’t at all a risky move since he was the highest-rated defensive prospect in the 2019 NHL Draft, and it was thought he’d go at #3. Chicago chose Kirby Dach, and we got Bo.

Byram is a young 18 — he turned 18 just before camp. He’s still got some growing to do, much less development. And we all know defensemen take longer to grow into their game than forwards.

So, I’m not necessarily looking for Byram to permanently make the team. I would like to see if he can translate his Rookie Faceoff success into regular preseason success, though. In other words, I’d like to see how he stacks up against current NHLers.

2. Will Any Other Prospects Shine?

The Colorado Avalanche have some good, young prospects. They’ve drafted well the last few years and acquired some young prospects in trade. They’ve even discovered some hidden gems.

Besides Byram, the standouts at rookie camp were Conor Timmins, Martin Kaut, and Shane Bowers. None of them are competing for an NHL roster spot just yet, but they definitely want to show they can hold their own with the veterans.

Of those players, Timmins is the most likely candidate. He dominated in the rookie tournament. Observers agree he looks hungry. His timing may be a tiny bit off, but that’s to be expected after missing 1 1/2 years of competitive hockey. He’ll get it back. What’s more, he was a standout at camp two years ago, and came this-close to making the roster.

Speaking of, last year Logan O’Connor did make the roster out of camp. I’d like to see what he brings to the table this season.

3. Who Will Show Chemistry in the Forward Lines?

It seems that the last few years, the most enduring line combinations for the Colorado Avalanche have shown chemistry. And that chemistry often starts right in camp. Forwards get paired together during the training, and somehow they just click.

Well, we’ll have to see who gets paired with whom in practices. I’d like to see who skates on Nazem Kadri’s line. Whomever gets paired with him during camp is likely auditioning for a second-line position.

My hope is that Tyson Jost and Andre Burakovsky will show chemistry with Kadri and with each other. Without seeing them, I can’t think of how their styles necessarily complement Kadri’s, but they definitely complement each other.

We’ll also have to see what happens with Colin Wilson. He wasn’t practicing properly with the team during the captain’s practices because he had surgery in the offseason. If he’s not skating with the regulars, that could change what the third line looks like. I’d like to see Joonas Donskoi and JT Compher develop some chemistry.

4. What Will Defensive Pairs Look Like?

Cale Makar (20 years old). Samuel Girard (21 years old). Bowen Byram (18 years old). Boy, it’s going to be fun watching the kids play together. Er, train together. We saw how well Makar and Girard skated together last year. They were like a pair of whirligigs that were bedeviling opponents, and it was a fun thing to watch. Maybe Byram will be paired with one of them.

In addition to Timmins, whom I’m really expecting to show well, we’ll see our veterans. It might be fun to see the juggernaut of Erik Johnson and Nikita Zadorov skating together at camp. We’ll also start to see where Ryan Graves fits in.

This training camp will also afford us our first look at the two new defensemen, Kevin Connauton and Calle Rosen.

Chemistry in camp is even more important for defensive pairings than for forward lines. So, as much fun as it would be to see them get creative, I don’t think the coaching staff will do too much in that direction beyond maybe the first day. They might try different pairings in preseason games, but I think they’ll want to train the pairs they have in mind for most of camp.

5. Will Mikko Rantanen be at Camp?

Our star winger, Mikko Rantanen, is not going to make camp. I guess tomorrow is only technically the first day of camp when veterans show up for their physicals. The team has four days of actual training camp activities after medicals day. So, technically, Rantanen at camp isn’t impossible.

However, some high-end restricted free agents seem to have a terminal case of FOMO. They’re all waiting to see what the others get, and they don’t seem to mind if that waiting game gets them out of the little-loved training camp.

To be fair, teams don’t seem to be turning the heat up too much on their offers. The waiting game seems to be a two-way street.

Nonetheless, I think all of Avs Nation will be watching to see of our Finnish star will be here at camp or at least the preseason.

So, Colorado Avalanche hockey is upon us. Do you have any particular questions you’d like answered at camp?