Colorado Avalanche Top Prospects
A look at the Colorado Avalanche top prospects heading into the 2015-16 season. The write ups for the Avalanche prospects are from mid-season, updating the progress of some of the Avalanche top prospects.
Mikko Rantanen: Right Wing - 6'4" / 211 lbs
Drafted: 10th overall to the Colorado Avalanche in 2015
Rantanen is a big presence on the ice and dominates opponents with his size and great set of hands.
Rantanen has been one of Colorado's busiest prospects as he spent time in the NHL, AHL and at the World Junior Championships representing his home country of Finland. He helped lead Finland to a gold medal as captain of the team while posting 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 7 games.
Rantanen is a gifted power forward that projects as a first to second line winger for Colorado as early as the 2016-17 season. However, Rantanen will most likely finish the remainder of this season with San Antonio Rampage where he is currently 2nd on the team in points with 26 (10 goals, 16 assists).
Mikhail Grigorenko: Center - 6'3" / 209 lbs
Drafted: 12th overall to the Buffalo Sabres in 2012
Grigorenko was originally a prospect of the Buffalo Sabres organization, but was involved in the Ryan O'Reilly trade that occurred at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Grigorenko has benefitted greatly from the trade, playing in 40 games with the Avalanche while posting 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists). There is still plenty of untapped potential to be reached with Grigorenko, who has spent time as a healthy scratch this year.
There is plenty of time though and it takes time for young players to adjust to a new system. Grigorenko projects as a second line center, but can also slot in on the wing.
Chris Bigras: Defenseman - 6'1" / 190 lbs
Drafted: 32nd overall to the Colorado Avalanche in 2013
Bigras has a very well rounded defensive game. He effectively cuts off passing lanes, delivers hits, but remains responsible about his positioning while on ice. He does not have a flashy offensive game but will occasionally jump in on the rush.
Bigras was recently recalled by the Avalanche where he will slot in as a third pairing defenseman. He's spent most of the season with the San Antonio Rampage playing in 37 games posting 19 points (6 goals, 13 assists).
He projects as a top-4 defenseman, but the Avalanche are better off taking their time with him, letting him slowly become more comfortable at the NHL level. He will most likely become a full time NHL defenseman by the 2016-17 season.
Write-up by Justin Lape, on Twitter @LankyLape
2015 Draft
1 10 Mikko Rantanen (R) - TPS Turku (SM-liiga)
2 39 A.J. Greer (L) - Boston University (H-East)
2 40 Nicolas Meloche (D) - Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
3 71 Jean-Christophe Beaudin (R) - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
4 101 Andrei Mironov (D) - Moscow Dynamo (KHL)
6 161 Sergei Boikov (D) - Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
7 191 Gustav Olhaver (C) - Rogle Jrs. (Sweden)
2014 Draft 1 23 Conner Bleackley (C) - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
3 84 Kyle Wood (D) - North Bay Battalion (OHL)
4 93 Nick Magyar (F) - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
4 114 Alexis Pepin (C) - Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
5 144 Anton Lindholm (D) - Skelleftea (Sweden Jrs.)
6 174 Maximilian Pajpach (G) - Slovakia U18 (Slovakia Jrs.)
7 204 Julien Nantel (L) - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
2013 Draft
1 1 Nathan MacKinnon (C) - Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
2 32 Chris Bigras (D) - Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
3 63 Spencer Martin (G) - Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
4 93 Mason Geertsen (D) - Vancouver Giants (WHL)
5 123 Will Butcher (D) - U.S. National Development Team (USHL)
6 153 Ben Storm (D) - Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
7 183 Wilhelm Westlund (D) - Farjestads Jrs. (Sweden)
Colorado Avalanche Top Prospects
|
|||||||
Rk | My NHL Trade Rumors | The Hockey News |
Corey Pronman ESPN | Hockey Prospectus | Hockey's Future | Dobber Prospects | NHL.com |
1 | M. Rantanen | M. Rantanen | M. Rantanen | M. Rantanen | M. Rantanen | M. Rantanen | M. Rantanen |
2 | C. Bigras | M. Grigorenko | C. Bigras | B. Gormley | C. Bigras | M. Grigorenko | C. Pickard |
3 | C. Bleackley | C. Bigras | W. Butcher | C. Bigras | C. Pickard | C. Pickard | C. Bigras |
4 | J. Hishon | C. Pickard | A. Mironov | C. Pickard | C. Bleackley | N. Zadorov | J. Hishon |
5 | B. Rendulic | C. Bleackley | JT Compher | C. Bleackley | N. Meloche | C. Bigras | C. Bleackley |
6 | M. Geerstsen | B. Rendulic | N. Meloche | N. Meloche | A. Mironov | J. Hishon | |
7 | N. Meloche | S. Elliott | C. Bleackley | J-C Beaudin | JT Compher | S. Elliott | |
8 | C. Pickard | J. Hishon | C. Pickard | AJ Greer | D. Siemens | C. Bleackley | |
9 | A. Martinsen | J.T. Compher | J. Hishon | B. Rendulic | M. Geertsen | A. Agozzino | |
10 | A. Agozzino | D. Siemens | K. Wood | J. Hishon | K. Wood | JT Compher |