The Colorado Avalanche have one of the lowest-ranked prospect pools in the NHL. While it’s not the lowest, it’s down there.
A recent prospect pool ranking in The Athletic looked at the state of the Avalanche’s pipeline. Despite the fact that there are some interesting names on the list, it’s hardly the most robust pipeline in the league.
The Avalanche rank 28th in the league, ahead of other contenders like the Florida Panthers (32nd), Dallas Stars (31st), Edmonton Oilers (30th), and Toronto Maple Leafs (29th). All of the teams ranked below Colorado have been chasing a Stanley Cup for the last decade or so. Only the Panthers have actually won in the last five years, with the Avalanche nabbing a Cup in 2022, of course.
It's been the quest for another championship that’s gutted the Avalanche’s prospect pool. Just last season, the Avs traded their best prospect, Calum Ritchie, to the New York Islanders in the Brock Nelson trade.
Incidentally, Ritchie has blossomed in Long Island. So, it’s safe to say Colorado was right in drafting him.
Anyhow, the Avs’ current prospect pipeline features a top prospect, one who came precisely via a trade last summer. That prospect would be Gavin Brindley.
It’s tough to brand Brindley as a prospect at this point. He’s played 52 games this season and earned 12 points along the way. He’s predominantly a fourth-liner at this point, but the depth of this Avalanche team makes it virtually impossible for Brindley to climb up the lineup.
But that’s where his strong suit lies. Brindley can play up and down the lineup, carving a role for himself wherever he plays.
Brindley has been a pleasant surprise for the Avalanche. But he’s not the only one who could make a name for himself in the not-too-distant future.
Avalanche may have future shutdown center in the mix
An overlooked prospect in the Avalanche’s pipeline is 20-year-old Jake Fisher. He was a fourth-round pick of the Avs in the 2024 NHL Draft. The Minnesota native is currently skating with the University of Denver in the NCAA.
In 37 games this season, he’s notched seven goals and 18 points. Those offensive numbers aren’t going to scare anyone. But Fisher doesn’t project as an overly gifted offensive center. He projects more like a middle-six shutdown pivot.
At 6’2” and 192 pounds, he’s got size to play in a defensive, shutdown role. His skill set, as The Athletic noted, is focused more on being a solid presence on the defensive side of the puck.
“He’s a 6-foot-2, 195-pound center with lots of experience on the penalty kill who works off the puck, supports play well defensively, will sacrifice his body to block a shot, and is strong in the faceoff circle.”
But Fisher is not all defense. As the scouting report noted, Fisher is more of a shooter than a passer. He’s got a solid one-timer, giving him some offensive upside.
It’s worth pointing out that the scouting report doesn’t really have him cracking the NHL. But then again, Fisher could grow into a solid fourth-line center for the Avalanche. If he can become a good defensive center, he may just carve a role for himself in the NHL after all.