Francesco Dell’Elce

June 2025 – Colorado have selected Dell’Elce in the 3rd round of the 2025 draft with the 77th pick. This is roughly where the over-ager was expected to go in the draft, perhaps slightly earlier than expected. As a college freshman in 2024-25 he was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team after leading his UMass’s defence corps in points with 24 in 40 games. The left-handed defender can do a little bit of everything, and has been praised for his poise under pressure. He is eligible to turn pro right away and the AHL blueline is thin on young talent, however the team already boasts one of the top offensive producers in the league on the back end so the newbie will have to earn his ice time in other ways too in order to stick around. Hayden Soboleski