Despite being one of the top-tier NHL teams, the Colorado Avalanche can still use their late first-round pick on a forward that can add to their already explosive offensive group. Each of these players could very well become a household name on whichever team decides to give them a shot.
We have already seen who the Avalanche should take at the blueline, but now let's shift our focus to the forward group.
Let's take a look.
1. Terik Parascak
If the Colorado Avalanche want to add another weapon to their arsenal, Terik Parascak is the best possible prospect available at the 24th pick. The Western Hockey League product out of Prince George lit the league on fire last season with a fabulous year.
With 43 goals and 62 assists in 68 games last season, 18-year-old Parascak was electrifying on the ice. With a point total of 105, he finished eighth among all WHL players. In the Cougars playoff run last season, he added six goals and eight assists in 12 games.
As a right-winger, he adds some depth to a belittled right side. Parascak could easily slide into the third line, alongside centerman Ross Colton and left-winger Miles Wood. He has shown to be a speedy player and has displayed a wicked wrister that can make an impact on this team. Seemingly, he has a knack for getting the puck in the back of the net.
2. Emil Hemming
Another option for the Avalanche in the first round would be someone who has played in an opinionated "rougher and tougher" league named Liiga. Right winger Emil Hemming, a nearly 18-year-old from Finland, who played for TPS as a 17-year-old last season, held his own against the fierce competition.
In 40 games, Hemming registered seven goals and four assists for 11 points. That may not seem like a whole lot, but he was just a boy among men on the ice. That pressure and tenacity could do wonders for him as he makes the jump to the NHL and faces off against the best of the best.
His strengths rely on his size. At a little over six-foot and 205 pounds of pure power to boot, Hemming brings a power-forward vibe to him. That correlates well with the Avalanche, as they may need a new force of nature depending on what happens with suspended forward Valeri Nichushkin. He may be the right name to call come June 28th.
3. Andrew Basha
Rounding out our list of potential draft targets for the Avalanche's first selection is right-winger Andrew Basha. At nearly 19 years old, he is the oldest player on this list, and he has spent the most amount of time in a higher-tier league.
Joining Parascak in the Western Hockey League, Basha was the third-highest point-getter for the Medicine Hat Tigers. With 30 goals and 55 assists, he set career highs in those major categories last season. Basha is also the only left-handed shot on this list and is listed as a forward, making him a flexible winger or centerman.
A little more experience may be what the Colorado Avalanche need when selecting their next roster spot. Having spent the last three seasons, and 178 games, at the Junior level, may give him an edge over our other potential picks. Only time will tell who the Avs decide on.