Colorado Avalanche Draft Profile: New Age D Jamie Drysdale
The Colorado Avalanche won’t be able to add to their defensive stable with the new age of puck moving defensemen in Jamie Drysdale because of their draft position.
The Colorado Avalanche are already so stacked at defense that it would be tempting to say they don’t need any more. However, you can never be too stacked at defense.
If the NHL uses the current standings for the 2020 NHL Draft, and they’re thinking of doing so, then the Avalanche have the #29 pick in the first round. They’ll get a decent depth player at that position. Unfortunately, it probably won’t be Jamie Drysdale.
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Jamie Drysdale is an 18-year-old defenseman out of Toronto. He’s played the last two seasons in the OHL for the Erie Otters. He’s represented Canada three times. Drysdale is ranked #3 by Central Scouting for North American skaters, but he’s scouted to go between #3 to #7.
Drysdale is smaller for a defenseman — 5-foot-11, 170 pounds — but he’s also a right hand shot. Let’s see what he’s going to bring to some team.
Jamie Drysdale Stats
Jamie Drysdale has played 112 games for the Otters. In his rookie season, he played 63 games. He earned 7 goals and 33 assists for 40 points.
This season, which was cancelled before it completed, he played 49 games. He bettered his rookie numbers in those fewer games. He recorded 9 goals and 38 assists for 47 points. Remember, that’s as a defenseman.
Drysdale played last year for Canada Black in U17 and even wore the C for captain. He got four assists in 5 games. He likewise played for Canada for the U18 team, getting two assists in seven games. Drysdale got his first international goal at this year’s World Junior Championship for the U-20 team. In seven games, he got a goal and two assists.
Drysdale would likely have represented Canada again at IIHF World Juniors.
Jamie Drysdale Highlights
Jamie Drysdale is the new age of defensemen. He’s meant to be a speedy puck mover, and he does just that. NHL Central Scouting sees the following in his game:
"“Jamie is an excellent skater who can drive the play and push the pace from the back end. He’s an excellent transition player, can make tape-to-tape passes on the fly and presents a high-end offensive game and playmaking ability that make him dangerous every time he touches the puck.”"
Bill Placzek of Draftsite has a lot to say about Drysdale:
"“Dynamic new age defenseman with a strong two-way game… He makes lightning fast cuts on the attack and is even more intimidating using his speed defending. He is a super aggressive defender who goes into the attacking puck carriers bent on making them look silly to venture on his side of the ice to enter.”"
Jamie Drysdale sounds like a pretty complete package.
Here he is in action:
That is some playmaking ability.
Colorado Avalanche and Jamie Drysdale
Like I said, you can never have too much defensive depth. What I like about Jamie Drysdale is he’s not just an offensive defenseman. With a lot of those guys, their defensive game suffers for years.
Drysdale is a two-way defenseman, which is my favorite kind. He excels at both ends of the ice. And I really like his vision that lets him make those plays.
Alas, as I said, Colorado will not pick high enough to add another elite defenseman to the prospect pool. It’s the flip side to being a team challenging for the Stanley Cup.
Related Story. NHL Considering Resumption of Season. light
The 2020 NHL Draft may well take place in June. Whenever the NHL holds the draft, I’m confident the Colorado Avalanche will get a good depth player.