The 2023 NHL Draft is right around the corner. The Colorado Avalanche have the following selections in this year’s draft:
- Pick 28 (1st round)
- Pick 155 (5th round)
- Pick 187 (6th round)
- Pick 219 (7th round).
What I would look for from the Avalanche in the 2023 NHL Draft are some forwards. With Gabriel Landeskog likely missing the entire 2023 NHL season, we don’t even know the future, outside of 2023.
The Avalanche did just acquire Ryan Johansson from the Nashville Predators, which will help next season and beyond at the second-line center position.
Ideally, the Colorado Avalanche would have had more draft picks to try and hit a bullseye with. Over the last five NHL Drafts, the Avalanche have made 27 selections (two last year). Of those 27, just ten of those players have appeared in an NHL game. The most appearances from those classes is Justin Barron, who has 39 games under his belt. The catch here? He has spent the last two seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, where he’s played 44 games.
Personally, I don’t see the Avalanche taking a shot at another goaltender in this year’s class. They took Ivan Zhighalov in last year’s draft and have a couple of others that are with the Colorado Eagles. Keith Kinkaid is set to become a free agent and Justus Annunen is a restricted free agent.
In March, the Avalanche extended Pavel Francouz for two years.
When is the 2023 NHL Draft?
Wednesday, June 28th-Thursday, June 29th.
The event will take place at 7 pm Eastern at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. It is the first time that Nashville has hosted the NHL Draft since 2003. As a Colorado Avalanche fan, it would be cool to see the NHL Draft hosted at Ball Arena.
As a Manitoba native, it would be cool to have it in Winnipeg.
NHL Draft TV channel:
You can tune into the 2023 NHL Draft on ESPN and NHL Radio. Additionally, you can stream the 2023 NHL Draft on ESPN+ and FuboTV.
If you are in Canada, you can watch on Sportsnet and TVA Sports, and stream live on SN Now.