The Colorado Avalanche entered the 2025 NHL Draft with all of two picks. They got one more back in the Charlie Coyle/Miles Wood trade. The pick ended up being a third-rounder at #77.
The Avalanche kept the pick and used it on Francesco Dell’Elce. He might not have been the sexiest pick at #77, especially since he’d been passed over in previous drafts. In 2024, for instance, Dell’Elce went undrafted. It must have been a tough blow, but it didn’t stop him from continuing his career.
His efforts ultimately landed him in the third round as an overager. It worked, and now, it seems Dell’Elce could be rewarding the Avalanche’s faith in him. According to Jesse Granger of The Athletic, Dell’Elce has seen his stock spike this season.
Granger wrote the following on Dell’Elce:
“The third-round pick from the 2025 draft has continued to impress at the collegiate level. Dell’Elce is a left-shot defenseman who moves well and creates offense from the point. He had a breakout freshman season at UMass with 24 points in 40 games last year, and is on an even better pace as a sophomore. The 20-year-old already has three goals and 10 assists in the first 18 games for the Minutemen.”
At this rate, Chris MacFarland and Joe Sakic will be getting calls from other GMs, asking them for the secret formula on how to identify overlooked talent. That Coyle/Wood trade has already yielded Gavin Brindley. Now, it seems that Dell’Elce could be the next piece to fall into place for the Avalanche.
At 20, Dell’Elce could be ready to impact the NHL sooner rather than later. He could be on a trajectory similar to Sam Malinski’s. Dell’Elce and Malinski have comparable skill sets, potentially becoming a late bloomer. That’s fine, especially since the Avs could face some churn on their blueline.
Josh Manson is 34, Brent Burns is 40, and Samuel Girard has been a question mark due to injuries. Assuming that Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and Malinski aren’t going anywhere any time soon, the Avalanche could be looking to replace as many as three regular blueliners within the next couple of seasons.
That situation could open the door for Dell’Elce. The UMass defenseman should finish this season in the NCAA. It wouldn’t be a stretch to see him with the Colorado Eagles next season, should he decide to turn pro. At that point, Dell’Elce could get a look at the NHL level. His ETA could be somewhere in 2027 or 2028.
There’s one last point regarding Dell’Elce. The Avalanche purposely picked him at 20, because he’s much closer to the NHL than, say, a 17 or 18-year-old defenseman. Who knows, Dell’Elce could end up developing so quickly that he may end up elbowing his way into the lineup next season. At the very worst, he deserves a look this season, once the NCAA campaign is over.