The Colorado Avalanche Quarter-Century Team: Draft Bust Edition

Defensemen

First Pairing: Duncan Siemens, Colby Cohen

Duncan Siemens
Drafted: Round 1, 11th overall | 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Highest Level: NHL
Avalanche Impact: 2014-15 - 2017-18 | 20GP, 1G, 1A, 2P

Drafted nine picks after franchise legend Gabriel Landeskog, Siemens is the only player from the first 17 players drafted in 2011 to not have some amount of success at the NHL level. While many players drafted this high wound up having successful AHL or European careers, Siemens retired after failing to make his mark in North America.

Notable players selected after him: Jamie Oleksiak (Stars, 14th), J.T. Miller (Rangers, 15th), Oscar Klefbom (Oilers, 19th), Vladislav Namestnikov (Lightning, 27th), Rickard Rakell (Ducks, 30th), Boone Jenner (Blue Jackets, 37th) John Gibson (Ducks, 39th), Brandon Saad (Blackhawks, 43rd), William Karlsson (Ducks, 53rd), Nikita Kucherov (Lightning, 58th), Vinctent Trocheck (Panthers, 64th), Jordan Binnington (Blues, 88th), J.G. Pageau (Senators, 96th), Johnny Gaudreau (Flames, 104th), Josh Manson (Ducks, 160th), Ondřej Palát (Lightning, 208th)

Colby Cohen
Drafted: Round 2, 45th overall | 2007 NHL Entry Draft
Highest Level: NHL
Avalanche Impact: 2010-11 | 3GP, 0G, 0A, 0P

Cohen's career trajectory closely followed that of Kevin Shattenkirk; unfortunately, the latter would go on to find much more success than the former. Both players spent time with the United States National Team Development Team, both spent 2007-08 - 2009-10 playing defense for the Boston University Terriers, where they would win the 2009 national championship (alongside other future Avs players Colin Wilson, Brandon Yip, and David Warsofsky
--- and Avs' then-prospects Zach Cohen and Kieran Millan), both were drafted by the Avs in 2007 (Shattenkirk went 14th overall), both made their NHL debuts for the Avs in the 2010-11 season, and both were traded away that same season.

Notable players selected after him: Wayne Simmonds (Kings, 61st), Evgeny Dadonov (Panthers, 71st), Alex Killorn (Lightning, 77th), Alec Martinez (Kings, 95th), Jamie Benn (Stars, 129th), Jake Muzzin (Penguins, 141st), Patrick Maroon (Flyers, 161st), Carl Hagelin (Rangers, 168th), Nick Bonino (Sharks, 173rd), Paul Byron (Sabres, 179th), Justin Braun (Sharks, 201st)

Second Pairing: Chris Bigras, Nicolas Meloche

Chris Bigras
Drafted: Round 2, 32nd overall | 2013 NHL Entry Draft
Highest Level: NHL
Avalanche Impact: 2015-16 - 2017-18 | 46GP, 1G, 3A, 4P

Unfortunately, the most notable impact Bigras had on the Colorado Avalanche came from his one-for-one trade to the New York Rangers for Ryan Graves on February 26, 2018. Seen as a minor-league caliber deal at the time, Graves would end up breaking into the NHL and logging career-redefining offensive and plus-minus numbers for the Avs. Graves would also serve as Cale Makar's initial linemate for the ensuing few seasons.

Notable players selected after him: JT Compher (Sabres, 35th), Tristan Jarry (Penguins, 44th), Arturri Lehkonen (Canadiens, 55th), William Carrier (Blues, 57th), Tyler Bertuzzi (Red Wings, 58th), Brett Pesce (Hurricanes, 66th), Pavel Buchnevich (Rangers, 75th), Jake Guentzel (Penguins, 77th), Mattias Janmark (Red Wings, 79th), Anthony Duclair (Rangers, 80th), Carter Verhaeghe (Maple Leafs, 82nd), Oliver Bjorkstrand (Blue Jackets, 89th), Juuse Saros (Predators, 99th), Miles Wood (Devils, 100th), Andrew Copp (Jets, 104th), Carson Soucy (Wild, 137th), Dominik Kubalík (Kings, 191st), MacKenzie Weegar (Panthers, 206th)

Nicolas Meloche
Drafted: Round 2, 40th overall | 2015 NHL Entry Draft
Highest Level: NHL
Avalanche Impact: N/A

Much like many of the players on this list, Meloche bounced around between the AHL and NHL and across multiple teams before heading for the KHL. The thing that makes this one sting particularly badly, though, is the caliber of NHL defensemen who were drafted after him.

Notable players selected after him: Mackenzie Blackwood (Devils, 42nd), Erik Černák (Kings, 43rd), Daniel Sprong (Penguins, 46th), Roope Hintz (Stars, 49th), Jordan Greenway (Wild, 50th), Rasmus Andersson (Flames, 53rd), Vince Dunn (Blues, 56th), Anthony Cirelli (Lightning, 72nd), Mathieu Joseph (Lightning, 120th), Conor Garland (Coyotes, 123rd), Kirill Kaprizov (Wild, 135th), Troy Terry (Ducks, 148th), John Marino (Oilers, 154th), Andrew Mangiapane (Flames, 166th), Mason Appleton (Jets, 168th), Matt Roy (Kings, 194th)

Third Pairing: Nigel Williams, Kyle Wood

Nigel Williams
Drafted: Round 2, 51st overall | 2006 NHL Entry Draft
Highest Level: AHL
Avalanche Impact: N/A

Williams is one of only two people named Nigel to be drafted into the NHL, with Nigel Dawes (Rangers, 159th, 2003) being the other. During the 2006-07 season, spent with the University of Wisconsin, Williams played with other future Avs alums Brian Elliott, Jack Skille, and Ben Street --- as well as Matthew Ford, who spent time playing for the Lake Erie Monsters when they were the AHL affiliate of the Avs, and John Mitchell (just not the one Avs fans would recognize).

Notable players selected after him: Artem Anisimov (Rangers, 54th), Steve Mason (Blue Jackets, 69th), Brad Marchand (Bruins, 71st), Cal Clutterbuck (Wild, 72nd), James Reimer (Maple Leafs, 99th), Viktor Stalberg (Maple Leafs, 161st), Mathieu Perreault (Capitals, 177th), Leo Komarov (Maple Leafs, 180th), Derek Dorsett (Blue Jackets, 189th)

Kyle Wood
Drafted: Round 3, 84th overall | 2014 NHL Entry Draft
Highest Level: AHL
Avalanche Impact: N/A

Wood was included alongside the aforementioned Conner Bleackley (and Alex Tanguay) in a deal that sent Mikkel Bødker to the Avs from the Arizona Coyotes. He would play for five different AHL teams in the span of five years before heading overseas, where he now plays with other Avs alum Jeremey Smith, Nail Yakupov, and Brandon Yip --- and also Ryan Merkley, who spent part of 2022-23 with the Colorado Eagles.

Notable players selected after him: Devon Toews (Islanders, 108th), Viktor Arvidsson (Predators, 112th), Michael Bunting (Coyotes, 117th), Igor Shesterkin (Rangers, 118th), Gustav Forsling (Canucks, 126th), Kevin Labanc (Sharks, 171st), Victor Olofsson (Sabres, 181st)

Scratches: Dave Liffiton, Eric Lundberg

Dave Liffiton
Drafted: Round 2, 63rd overall | 2003 NHL Entry Draft
Highest Level: NHL
Avalanche Impact: 2010-11 | 4GP, 1G, 0A, 1P

Liffiton's history with the Avalanche is an interesting one: He was initially drafted by the Avs, but he was traded, alongside Chris McAllister and a 2004 2nd round pick, to the New York Rangers for Matthew Barnaby and a 2004 3rd round pick (which became the previously-mentioned Denis Parshin). Eight years after he was drafted by the Avs, he would sign as a free agent with them, spending all but three games of the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons with the then-affiliate Lake Erie Monsters (where he was named team captain).

Notable players taken after him: Jimmy Howard (Red Wings, 64th), Clarke MacArthur (Sabres, 74th), Jan Hejda (Sabres, 106th), Kyle Quincey (Red Wings, 132nd), Lee Stempniak (Blues, 148th), John Mitchell (Maple Leafs,158th), Brad Richardson (Avalanche, 163rd), Marc Methot (Blue Jackets, 168th), Joe Pavelski (Sharks, 205tg), Kyle Brodziak (Oilers, 214th), Tobias Enstrom (Thrashers, 239th), Dustin Byfuglien (Blackhawks, 245th), Matt Moulson (Penguins, 263rd), Jaroslav Halak (Canadiens, 271st), Brian Elliott (Senators, 291st)

Eric Lundberg
Drafted: Round 3, 94th overall | 2002 NHL Entry Draft
Highest Level: AHL
Avalanche Impact: N/A

Lundberg pivoted from a respectable Hockey East tenure with the Providence College Friars to a handful of years in the ECHL and AHL but never cracked an NHL roster.

Notable players taken after him: Valtteri Filppula (Red Wings, 95th), James Wisniewski (Blackhawks, 156th), Curtis McElhinney (Flames, 176th), Paul Ranger (Lightning, 183rd), Ian White (Maple Leafs, 191st), Max Talbot (Penguins, 234th), Dennis Wideman (Sabres, 241st) Jonathan Ericsson (Red Wings, 291st)