2015-16 Colorado Avalanche Top 10 Prospects

Since the 2009 draft where Colorado loaded up with Matt Duchene, Ryan O’Reilly, Stefan Elliott, and Tyson Barrie, it has been feast or famine for the Av’s, and more famine than feast. As a result of poor drafting and/or developing, the Avs fired Rick Pracey, their head amateur scout last October.

To help offset their shallow prospect pool, the Avs have turned to signing free agents out of Europe, but there is lots of work to be done.

1. Mikko Rantanen: Right Wing – 6’4” / 209 lbs
Drafted: 10th overall in first round of the 2015 draft by the Avalanche.

Rantanen has spent the past two seasons playing in a pro men’s league in Finland, but for a poor TPS team. Despite playing for the second worst team and against men, Rantanen still managed to impress, recording 28 points in 56 games, good enough for second in team scoring. Rantanen was a standout for team Finland at the World Juniors as well, scoring four goals in five games. Rantanen has the size and skill to jump right into the NHL, and having spent the past two seasons playing against men, he is ready to play pro in North America. Rantanen will audition for a NHL job at training camp, but may be best suited adjusting to the smaller ice in the AHL with Lake Erie.

Scouting Report

“Displays a strong game on the wall and dominance below the circles. Has excellent vision, playmaking skills, and above average feet an effort in all three zones. He is very strong on the puck and uses his size to control play, bring havoc in the front and when he gets the puck it’s tough to get it from him, whether it is in the cycle or when he moves out off the wall. Seems very in control in his carries. He has solid jump and speed and the vision to find openings. If there was a knock it would be his low scoring totals so far. One could argue he wasn’t playing with pivot able to get him the biscuit. Others might say he lacks the high end soft and quick hands, foot speed and agility when passes are sent his way. He has spent time on IR, but is a very intriguing prospect. He was selected to the roster for the World Junior Under-18 Tournament in April and also was a member of his homeland’s team roster for the World Junior Under-20 at Christmas 2014.”  – Bill Placzek – DraftSite.com

2. Chris Bigras: Defence – 6’2” / 194 lbs
Drafted: 32^nd overall in the second round of the 2013 draft by the Avalanche.

Bigras had an up and down season. With hopes of cracking the Avs team out of training camp, he was returned to junior for more seasoning. Then he failed to earn a return spot on team Canada at the World Juniors, but ended up having a breakout season with Owen Sound (OHL). He recorded a whopping 71 points in 62 games (remember he is a defenceman) before ending the year with a seven game audition with Lake Erie in the AHL, where he added four assists. The additions of Francois Beauchemin and Nikita Zadorov likely will dictate that Bigras will start his pro career in the AHL, but he is an important part of the Avalanche blueline.

Scouting Report

Refined defenseman who logged heavy minutes with Owen Sound and rarely was caught out of place… Really lets the game come to him and rarely tries to do too much, always playing within his means… Took a positive step forward this year offensively, showing more offensive poise and an ability to handle PP duties… Safe pick but we question how much upside he has at the pro level.  – The Scouting Report

3. Conner Bleackley: Centre – 6’0” / 192 lbs
Drafted: 23^rd overall in the first round of the 2014 draft by the Avalanche.

Bleackley is future captain material for the Avalanche, but really projects as a third line centre at this point. He has to improve his strength and conditioning, but that will come in time as he has the heart of a competitor. His offensive upside is limited, but his willingness to score the greasy goals will be sufficient. With one more year of junior eligibility, Bleackley will return to Red Deer before turning pro where he will likely get more seasoning in the AHL. In the past two seasons, he has averaged .96 points per game and should be poised for a breakout offensive season.

Scouting Report

Conner is a determined, competitive player who doesn’t take any shortcuts. He’s smart, gets to the right areas and is a catalyst for positive plays all over the ice. He doesn’t allow himself to be denied!” –  Craig Button, TSN Director of Scouting

4. Joey Hishon: Centre – 5’10” / 175 lbs
Drafted: 17^th overall in the first round of the 2010 draft by the Avalanche.

Injuries have stunted the former first round pick of the Avalanche, as he has missed almost two entire seasons with concussion injuries. In the past two years however, he has been getting back on track in the AHL, and last season he produced 36 points in 53 games. Hishon also made his NHL debut last year getting 13 games under his belt, recording two points. Coach Patrick Roy likes his skill and offensive upside, but size and injury history are concerns. Hishon will compete hard for a roster spot in training camp and should see more time in the NHL, but will likely benefit from more development time in the AHL.

Scouting Report

Hishon has overcome a series of significant injuries, making his NHL debut in the 2014 playoffs, but the time away has hampered his development. A player who uses his speed to make up for his lack of size, Hishon was a prolific scorer in junior hockey but may be more of a two-way, skating forward at the pro level. – Hockeys Future

5. Borna Rendulic: Right Wing – 6’2” / 200 lbs
Acquired: Signed as a free agent in 2014

The 23-year old Croatian free agent likely went under the radar playing hockey in Croatia, which would explain how he went undrafted in the NHL. After a breakout season in Finland where he scored 32 points in 57 games, he showed up on the Av’s radar and was signed to a NHL entry level contract. He made his NHL debut last season playing 11 games and securing his spot in history as the first Croatian born player to score a NHL goal. Rendulic also played 26 games in the AHL and will compete for a roster spot in training camp.

Scouting Report

A winger with a big frame, Rendulic possesses a promising combination of size and scoring ability. He has a finisher’s instinct and both the strength and skill to power his way to the net. Rendulic has good technique and his shot is a threat, but underused because of his tendency for finesse. He often looks passive off the puck and could up his intensity and sharpness. Rendulic still needs to fine-tune all aspects of his play, with special focus on skating and adding grit. (Matias Strozyk, Elite Prospects)

6. Mason Geertsen: Defence – 6’4” / 205 lbs
Drafted: 93^rd overall in the fourth round of the 2013 draft by the Avalanche.

Geertsen may be the Avalanche’s best kept secret.  The Giant defenceman from Vancouver in the WHL had a breakout season offensively, increasing his goal totals to 13 from four in the previous season. Geertsen is no stranger to physical play, averaging over 100 penalty minutes a season. He has been a physical defensive defenceman who has continued to develop, and now has some offensive upside to boot. No longer junior eligible, he made his pro debut with Lake Erie getting his feet wet with nine games. He will gain valuable experience this summer at development camps and training camp before being assigned to the AHL where he will cut his teeth in pro hockey.

Scouting Report

Geertsen is mostly known as a big and physical defenceman who has really grown his responsibilities and ice-time over the past couple of seasons.  His skating is quite good for his size and he is capable of making decent decisions with the puck.  He will never be considered an offensive blueliner but the fact that he more than doubled his point totals in 2013-14 compared to the year before is an encouraging sign of his development.  I think Geertsen is fairly comparable to fellow Avalanche prospect Duncan Siemens in that they are nearly identical in size and playing style. – Cody Nickolet

7. Nicolas Meloche: Defence – 6’3” / 205 lbs
Drafted: 40^th overall in second round of the 2015 draft by the Avalanche.

Meloche is a big, nasty physical defenceman who does everything well. In his draft year with Baie-Comeau in the QMJHL he played in 44 games, scored 34 points and racked up 99 penalty minutes. Bigger players tend to develop slowly, as do defencemen and if that is the case with Meloche, his upside could be extremely high, as in Chris Pronger territory. The Avalanche will take their time with Meloche allowing him to develop in junior and hope to see continued progression.

Scouting Report

“Usually young defenders who display strong two way game don’t come with a full package and toolbox. Not so here. He is player who is strong positionally but also displays mobility and strong physicality. Already mature in his understanding of his position. He takes attackers to the outside, with good gaps and timing. Retrieves many of those pucks and quickly advances them with quick outs. Reads the outlets and is precise in his passes, causing odd-man breaks at the other end. Is developing as pointman on the PP. Will walk in along the wall to open things, and is also starting to walk the blue line to set up the attack on the PP. A big man with excellent mobility. Looks destined to go early.“ Bill Placzek – DraftSite.com

 

8. Calvin Pickard: Goalie – 6’1” / 208
Drafted: 49^th overall in second round of the 2010 draft by the Avalanche.

With three seasons of development in the AHL now under his belt, Pickard is ready to graduate to the NHL. Last season he made his NHL debut getting 16 starts and winning 6 of them while recording a 2.35 GAA and a .932 save percentage. Patrick Roy was very complimentary of Pickards game, and the Avalanche see him as a backup and future successor to Semyon Varlamov. But with Reto Berra under contract, the Avalanche will allow Pickard to get starts in the AHL until either an injury or roster move create an opening in the NHL for Pickard.

Scouting Report

Pickard is a technically-sound netminder. He uses his confidence and good goalie instincts to play a simple but smart game. He has shown in the past he is more than capable of being relied upon as a workhorse goalie. – Hockeys Future

9. Andreas Martinsen: Right Wing – 6’3” / 220
Acquired Signed as free agent in 2105

The Avs go back to the European free agent well again with big Martinsen who played in Germany scoring 41 points in 50 games and adding 99 penalty minutes. Martinsen will bring some much needed sand paper to the Avalanche forwards group, providing a net presence, as well as a intimidating physical presence. While the role of the goon is all but extinct, Martinsen has a bottom-six quality NHL skill set as well, which makes him a viable NHL option. Expect Martinsen to adapt to the North American game in the AHL, but he should get a NHL look at some point.

Scouting Report

Martinsen is a big physical forward who loves to drop the gloves and crash the net, old time hockey style. He should adjust to the North American style  quickly and his skating skills are not a liability as well. While his fantasy value is primarily going to come from hits and penalty minute contributions, his five points in 12 playoff games in Germany offer some hope his skill set can pass at the NHL level. Expect Martinsen to play the majority of his games with San Antonio this season and hope he can fight his way onto the Avalanche roster. – McKeens Hockey

1o. Andrew Agozzino: Left Wing – 5’ 9” / 187 lbs
Acquired: Signed as a free agent in 2013

Agozzino is an undrafted free agent who has gone on to lead Lake Erie in scoring for several seasons now. There is little doubt the reason why the highly skilled winger went undrafted and remains out of the NHL is his lack of size, but if he continues to produce offence at the level he has in his AHL career, he may force his way into the NHL. He was rewarded with his first NHL game last season and recorded his first NHL point, an assist. It is doubtful he can force his way into the roster out of camp, but if injuries present him with an opportunity, it is possible he scores at a rate which makes it impossible for the Avs to send him back down.

Scouting Report

Agozzino has been somewhat of an underdog his entire hockey career. He has excellent skills to go along with great intelligence. A consistent scorer at the junior and AHL levels, he broke multiple franchise scoring records for the Niagara Ice Dogs and was the leading scorer for Colorado AHL affiliate Lake Erie in each of his first two pro seasons. He also plays with some snarl to his game and is not afraid to compete in tight areas. – Hockeys Future

Recent Roster Graduates: Nathan Mackinnon, Steffan Elliott

Players under 25 years old and with less than 25 career NHL games played qualify as a prospect for purpose of this list.

Written by Peter Harling, who can be found on twitter @pharling

Mikko Rantanen

Chris Bigras

Conner Bleackley

Joey Hishon

Borna Rendulic

Mason Geertsen

Nicolas Meloche

Calvin Pickard

Andreas Martinsen

Andrew Agozzino