The 2025 Commerce Deadline noticed the Colorado Avalanche make loads of strikes to bolster the crew’s depth for an additional Stanley Cup push. It got here at the price of quite a few draft picks and a few notable prospects, together with William Zellers and up to date first-round decide Calum Ritchie. Zellers is capturing the lights out in the US Hockey League (USHL), main the league in goal-scoring with 39 targets whereas including 22 assists for 61 factors in 43 video games. Essentially the most notable identify moved was Ritchie, the twenty seventh decide within the 2023 NHL Entry Draft who scored his first profession purpose with the Avalanche initially of the season. He has 15 targets and 53 assists for 68 factors in 44 video games for the Oshawa Generals this season.
The Avalanche are in win-now mode, Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon are of their prime, goaltending hasn’t been this good in years, and the depth rivals the one of many 2022 crew we noticed win all of it, however what in regards to the future in the event that they don’t win all of it? Who will develop and develop to fill in some spots with only a few draft picks and prospects being moved for gamers to win now? Fortunately, it isn’t all doom and gloom for this crew’s prospect pool, as we may see some notable gamers be part of the crew very shortly with their improvement.
Ilya Nabokov: Goaltender
Normal supervisor Chris MacFarland and president of hockey operations Joe Sakic needed to make drastic choices early within the season when Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen weren’t adequate within the crease. Their acquisitions of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, dubbed the “Lumberyard,” have been glorious this season and a big cause they’re again to their previous profitable methods, however who takes the online subsequent? Wedgwood has yet one more yr on his contract and is popping 33 subsequent yr, whereas Blackwood simply signed a five-year $26.5 million extension, however somebody might want to again him up. In comes Ilya Nabokov from Metallurg Magnitogorsk within the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Nabokov, who was drafted thirty eighth total within the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, has been among the best goaltenders on among the best groups within the KHL at age 21. Metallurg is 30-20-2, second within the Kharlamov division, second within the East Convention, and third within the KHL. He has a report of 23-16-0, a .925 save share (SV%), and a 2.15 goals-against common (GAA) . His 23 wins are ranked third most, and his SV% is ranked sixth amongst all goaltenders who’ve performed 40-plus video games.
Final season highlighted why Nabokov has the potential to make a big influence. He outperformed his goaltending accomplice, former Calgary Flame Artyom Zagidulin, showing in 43 video games and attaining a report of 23-13-3 throughout the common season with a formidable 2.15 GAA, a .930 SV%, and three shutouts. Nabokov’s efficiency earned him the Aleksei Cherepanov Award, recognizing him because the league’s finest rookie.
He continued to shine within the playoffs, recording a 16-6 report and serving to Magnitogorsk win its third Gagarin Cup and seventh league championship in franchise historical past. His distinctive playoff statistics included a 1.82 GAA, a .942 SV%, and 4 shutouts, which earned him the title of playoff MVP. His contract there expires on the finish of Could, which implies he may signal his entry-level contract (ELC) and get some video games in with the Colorado Eagles within the American Hockey League (AHL).
Sean Behrens: Defenseman
We noticed Behrens play within the ultimate sport of the common season with the Eagles and one sport within the playoffs as soon as he completed his playoff run with the College of Denver. What was presupposed to be an amazing rookie season with the Eagles was postponed when he suffered a knee harm that required surgical procedure and stored him out of the lineup for the entire season. Many overlook what he can deliver to the lineup when he’s wholesome.
Behrens is an distinctive participant in transition. He skillfully executes managed zone entries, typically attracting the eye of two or three defenders. He often pinches down from the purpose, showcasing a flexible talent set as soon as he will get into the offensive zone. Behrens can maneuver the puck effortlessly in any space of the offensive zone and is understood for taking a strong shot or delivering an exquisite move from just about any place. Behrens’ skating permits him to shortly obtain spectacular velocity over brief distances, permitting him to maneuver from one finish to the opposite whereas skillfully maneuvering round opponents.
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Maybe probably the most likable trait of Behrens’ defensive sport is that he performs like he’s 6-foot-4 when he’s 5-foot-10. He’s proven this sense of physicality when defending the online entrance and enjoying within the corners. Behrens additionally excels at forcing defenders out extensive when breaking into their zone and isn’t afraid of laying the physique. He additionally has a really lively stick when defending in his zone, particularly when killing a penalty. He’ll want a while to rehab from this devastating harm however anticipate him to be a full-time Avalanche within the subsequent two to 3 seasons.
Mikhail Gulyayev: Defenseman
Returning to the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and the KHL, we now have Mikhail Gulyayev. Though initially shocked when he was picked, I later understood his potential. With seven targets and eight assists for 15 factors in 64 video games, he won’t stand out, however he has made vital strides in his third KHL season. The intangibles he reveals can stand out when he involves North America.
Gulyayev is a powerful defensive participant with glorious hole management. He stays well-aligned with puck motion in low-danger conditions. Regardless of which league he has performed in—whether or not it’s the KHL, VHL, or MHL—he shortly adjusts to puck motion and maintains his positioning successfully within the corners. Whereas he’s agile and alert, he doesn’t fully shut down performs; as a substitute, he avoids utilizing his physicality to entice attackers totally. He focuses on making use of sufficient strain to maintain opponents shifting in low-danger areas with out utterly immobilizing them.
Mikhail Gulyayev with an ideal snipe 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Vi0jHv4FAK
— KHL (@khl_eng) January 27, 2025
Gulyayev’s skating is his standout trait, making him a risk each time he has the puck and just a little house to maneuver. He accelerates successfully in straight traces and thru crossovers, and his crossover strategies will be elusive, typically leaving opposing defenders off stability throughout rushes. Moreover, Gulyayev possesses glorious edgework, contributing to his outstanding agility in all instructions.
Though he takes many photographs from the blue line, he successfully makes use of his crossovers to take care of his place. By shifting laterally alongside the blue line, he can heart himself and create sufficient separation to take a shot towards the online. His contract expires on Could 31, 2026, so he’ll play one other season within the KHL. Nevertheless, he’ll flip 20 when his contract expires, permitting him to play within the AHL when he indicators his ELC.
The Avalanche have moved a lot of their latest prospects these previous couple of seasons to enhance their roster. Whereas some strikes have labored, others haven’t, and whereas seeing Ritchie and Zellers moved panicked everybody in regards to the crew’s future, they nonetheless have some promising gamers we’ll see within the coming seasons.
