The Colorado Avalanche utilized their final pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to grab Nolan Roed from the Tri-City Storm of the USHL.
The 19-year-old center stands at 5’11” and 185 pounds. He’s a left shot forward described by Elite Prospects as “offensive center,” “playmaker,” and “puckhandler.”
He was ranked 135th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. But when looking at his numbers, his ranking is quite interesting.
He notched six goals and 15 points in 25 games in the 2023-24 season with the Tri-City Storm. He followed that up this past season with 27 goals and 60 points in 61 games. Those numbers suggest there’s plenty of offensive upside to Roed’s game.
Here’s the full scouting report on Roed from Elite Prospects:
"In sustained pressure, Roed is a force. He’s constantly moving without possession, dipping behind defenders and popping into space for chances. With possession, he has both shooting and passing skill, amplified by his ability to get off the wall and build downhill speed. Interchanging with his defencemen, he gets all of his teammates involved as he controls the game."
That description sounds like he shouldn’t have been a seventh-rounder. Still, Roed is an overager who’s headed to St. Cloud State University in the NCAA next season. His ETA could be a lot sooner than expected considering he’s already 19.
If he pans out for the Avalanche, Roed could look like a solid bottom-six forward with offensive upside.
Colorado Avalanche prioritizing more immediate help over long-term prospects
As a playoff contender, the Colorado Avalanche are prioritizing players who could make the team sooner rather than later.
Like the previous picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Avalanche have focused more on older players whose ETA to the NHL could be considerably shorter than younger prospects.
Given the Avalanche’s depth chart, the club will need depth down the middle in two to three years. That’s the sort of ETA Roed could have to the NHL. If he turns pro after this upcoming season, fans could hear Roed’s name in the AHL.
It’s worth pointing out that the Avs have had luck with later-round prospects. Like Nikita Prischepov, Roed looks like he could be this year’s under-the-radar pick.
Of course, Roed is a longshot at this point. But then again, who doesn’t love a longshot? The Avalanche need all the help they can get with looming cap constraints. So, here’s hoping that Nolan Roed can use his skills to get his foot in the NHL door.