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The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects. Every day in August we will be bringing you a complete breakdown of a team’s Draft and insights into their off-season movements thus far. Following this up in September, we will dive into every team’s prospect depth chart with fantasy insights and implications for the upcoming seasons.
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The Avalanche will be returning to action with a similar roster as the previous season, including the same core that won the 2022 Stanley Cup. The availability of that core is the biggest story to watch, and will be a huge factor for both the team’s competitiveness and the contribution of prospects to the team’s fantasy outlook this season. Gabriel Landeskog held a press conference to not retire but also not announce a return date, and Valeri Nichushkin remains in the Player Assistance Program until at least mid-November. Both could feasibly return in-season, meaning that their cap hits were not spent elsewhere this offseason. As a result, two top-six roster spots may be available indefinitely when the campaign kicks off which could slide new names into the lineup.
Speaking of new names, let’s dive into Colorado’s 2024 Draft. The Avs did not pick in the 1st round, but had extra picks in rounds 5 – 7. Many of the names below are not fantasy-worthy and won’t be signing ELCs without 2 years of development minimum, but we know that draft picks are all lottery tickets, and all the scouting staff needs is 1 or 2 names to hit (or retain enough value to be trade assets at the deadline…). Colorado went heavy on goalies and Americans in the draft, including a few committed to NCAA hockey in the neighborhood.
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NHL Draft
Round 2, 38th Overall – Ilya Nabokov, G
Colorado kicked off their draft by taking KHL Champion, Playoff MVP, and Top Rookie Ilya Nabokov in the 2nd round. His 6-01 frame is on the small side for NHL netminders which is why he was projected to be a 2nd- or 3rd-rounder despite his accolades. He moves well to make positional saves and was highly effective in the KHL, posting a 0.930 SV% in the regular season and 0.942 SV% in the playoffs. He even managed an invite to the KHL vs NHL All-Star game where he got to casually face some top stars. He has not signed an ELC and is expected to remain in the KHL for 2024-25, but his contract ends there and his plans for 2026 are not confirmed.
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Round 3, 76th Overall – William Zellers, LW
Profiled but not rated in the pre-draft DobberProspects Report, Zellers is a high-skill winger who needs to prove his efficacy at a higher level. Showing (extremely) well in high-school hockey is fine, but Zellers needs to “prove it” at the NCAA level before he will have fantasy relevance even in leagues with deep reserves. He will join North Dakota this year where we will see how much of his goal-per-game production can translate against tougher competition. If the offense does translate and his skill gets shown off against name-brand prospects around the league, there is “riser” potential here.
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Round 4, 121st Overall – Jake Fisher, C
Colorado went for a higher floor and lower ceiling with Fisher in the 4th round. Scoring at just under a point-per-game pace in the USHL, Fisher’s strengths lie in his 200-foot game and ability to smother opponents. It helps that the centerman brings good size at 6-02 and 192lb. Another big positive for both the player and the organization is that Fisher will be joining the University of Denver in 2024, where Colorado likes to regularly view, recruit, and provide input to players (including their current bottom-six staple Logan O’Connor). Fisher’s upside is likely on the 3rd line, but there is some goal-scoring potential here which would be fantasy-worthy in deep leagues. He played a 3rd line role for Team USA at the 2024 WJSS.
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Round 5, 132nd Overall – Louka Cloutier, G
Another American pick – Cloutier was the starter for the Chicago Steel of the USHL in 2023-24 and managed a .904 SV% in 34 games on a bad team. He’s heading to University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2024. He’s a long-term prospect (like most goalies) so don’t bank on an ELC or any fantasy value unless he posts 2-3 years of college success.
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Round 5, 137th Overall – Ivan Yunin, G
Another one! Colorado gambled on a third goalie with the hopes that someone in the crop pans out down the line. At 6-02 he’s not a beast but his Russian U18 stats were monstrous (.952 SV% in 20 games played). This was the top save percentage of all goalies in the age group, but his workload wasn’t particularly heavy, and Colorado likes to see good performance over many starts before investing too heavily in netminders. Wait a few years until he gets to be a starter somewhere in Russia before putting him on your fantasy radar.
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Round 5, 161st Overall – Max Curran, C
Curran joined the WHL in 2023-24 after playing Czech junior and representing his country at nearly every age level internationally. His 17-year-old rookie season in North America was so-so, managing 32 points in 40 games, but his stat line (5-27-32) was very assist-heavy. This has been true throughout his career, and the fact is no one makes the big leagues with only assists. If he can become more multifaceted as he develops in the WHL for a few more years, he could have middle-six upside. Not worth a fantasy reserves spot for now.
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Round 6, 185th Overall – Tory Pitner, RD
Fisher won’t be the only prospect for the Avs to watch at University of Denver – 6th-rounder Pitner will also be jumping from the USHL to the NCAA within easy viewing distance. His offensive numbers don’t pop, but scouting reports on the 6-01 rearguard cite his ability to disrupt plays through good positioning and stickwork. He represented Team USA at the U18 and U19 levels last season and ranked 102 on the DobberProspects pre-draft rankings. Never underestimate a defenseman drafted by Colorado.
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Round 7, 215th Overall – Christian Humphreys, C
Ranked 100th in the DobberProspects pre-draft ranking, Humphreys has a full toolbox, particularly when it comes to passing and creating space for others. He’s a University of Michigan commit with point-per-game USHL production with season. Can forecheck, but overall speed is a slight concern to be tested at the next level.
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Round 7, 217th Overall – Nikita Prishchepov, LW
A 20-year-old overager, Prishchepov had steadily increased his production in the QMJHL for 3 years since relocating from Russia. If you’re going to swing in the final round, you may as well do it on a point-per-game player who is 6-01 and has dropped the gloves a few times.
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Off-Season Moves
Incoming
Parkey Kelly, LW, 2x $825k
Erik Brannstrom, LD, 1x $900k
Calvin de Haan, LD/RD, 1x $800k
Jacob MacDonald (again), LD/LW, 2x $775k
Calle Rosen (again), LD, 1x $775k
Jere Innala, LW, 1x $870k (AHL)
Chase Bradley, LW, 2x $873k (AHL)
Sage Weinstein, LD, 3x792k (AHL)
Kevin Mandolese, G, 1x $775k (AHL)
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Outgoing
Zach Parise, LW
Andrew Cogliano, C/LW
Sean Walker, RD
Yakov Trenin, C/W
Brandon Duhaime, RW
Jack Johnson, LD
Frederik Olofsson, C/LW
Ivan Prosvetov, G
Riley Tufte, C (AHL)
Alex Beaucage, RW (AHL)
Nate Clurman, RD (AHL)
Caleb Jones, LD (AHL)
Gianni Fairbrother, LD (AHL)
Arvid Holm, G (AHL)
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Re-Signed
Casey Mittlestadt, C, 3x $5.75M
Jonathan Drouin, LW, 1x $2.5M
Trent Miner, G, 1x $775k (AHL)
Wyatt Aamodt, LD, 1x $775k (AHL)
Jason Polin, RW, 1x $775k (AHL)
The incoming/outgoing lists are primarily depth and AHL roles, meaning that growth is expected internally for the temporary gaps left by Landeskog and Nichushkin. Bubble prospects may have their best chance yet at cracking the NHL lineup, but more on that will come in next month’s 32-in-32 edition…
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Development Camp & WJSS
Avs Development Camp took place July 3 – 5. Camp was short and sweet, with the highlight being a fully healthy Calum Ritchie participating after missing the previous summer’s camp due to injury.
As an extra treat, fans had the chance to watch Calum Ritchie (CAN) and Jake Fisher (USA) at the World Junior Summer Showcase.
Fans will get their next opportunity to see Colorado’s top prospects in September – the exact dates of rookie camp have not yet been announced.
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Final Thoughts
While other contenders like Vegas and Tampa have demonstrated ruthless roster turnover to stay competitive, Colorado has had relatively high roster consistency, saving their moves for trade deadlines. Their goal won’t be anything short of another Stanley Cup while they have MacKinnon and Makar under contract, so even though roster spots appear to be open for the taking this season, those spots will be upgraded with veterans at the deadline if prospects can’t lock it down. Be excited for high prospect upsides on a high-scoring team like this, but also be wary that prospects are assets first and foremost at this stage of contention.
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Thanks for reading! Follow me on X @soboleskih for Avalanche prospect updates all year long!
Hayden Soboleski