Because of this Avalanche’s arrival in 1995, Colorado has become a significant producer of college and professional hockey talent within the previous 25 years.  The state paths traditional powers such as Minnesota, Michigan and Massachusetts in creating future professional players, but the difference has shrunk.

Here is The Denver Post’s leading 10 Colorado-born hockey players to have attained the NHL, with a significant emphasis on those who played all or most of their youth hockey (18-under) from the nation.

10. Mike Eaves
Ronald Martinez, Getty ImagesMike Matheson #19 of the Florida Panthers and Patrick Eaves #18 of the Dallas Stars during a preseason game at American Airlines Center on Oct. 4, 2016 in Dallas, Texas.

F | Denver | 1979-86

The son of Canadian defenseman Cecil Eaves, that was on the University of Denver roster for 2 spans from 1956 to 1958, Mike starred in the University of Wisconsin for four years and led the Badgers to an NCAA title in 1977. Eaves, 63, moved to some seven-year NHL career with the Minnesota North Stars and Calgary Flames, producing 226 points from games.

9. Ben Bishop
Joe Mahoney, The Associated PressColorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) conveys the puck around the Internet against Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop (30) and Stars defenseman Gavin Bayreuther (44) the next phase of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver.

G | Denver | 2008-present

The Dallas Stars’ current No. 1 goalie was born in Denver but grew up in Missouri. He was drafted in 2005 from St. Louis but only played briefly for the Blues and Ottawa Senators ahead of becoming the No. 1 guy for Tampa Bay in 2013-14. The 6-foot-7 Bishop, 33, played high school hockey (Chaminade College Prep) in St. Louis to get the same team as future DU Pioneers Chris Butler and Paul Stastny. Bishop has an estimated career earnings of more than $36 million.

8. Drew Shore
Denver Post fileDenver center Drew Shore skated in the third phase. The University of Denver hockey team defeated Alabama-Huntsville 5-2 in Magness Arena Saturday night, January 7, 2012.

F | Denver | 2012-17

Shore, 29, grew up in Cherry Hills and played Colorado youth hockey. He further developed in Canada and Michigan before returning to Colorado because of DU Pioneer, serving because co-captain for a junior and leading the team from scoring. He was drafted 44th complete in 2009 from Calgary and played 94 NHL matches for Florida, Calgary and Vancouver before shooting his talents into Europe. He played this past season in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.

7. John Grahame
Doug Pensinger, Getty ImagesGoalie John Grahame #47 of this Colorado Avalanche warms up before facing the Calgary Flames in Pepsi Center on Nov. 9, 2010 in Denver. The Flames defeated the Avalanche 4-2.

G | Denver | 1999-2008

The son of former DU goalie, assistant trainer and administrator Ron Grahame played for Lake Superior State shortly after the Lakers won their second title in 1994. He went on drama 224 NHL matches and win at the 2004 Stanley Cup as a backup with all the Tampa Bay Lightning. Grahame, a Denver native, was a Boston Bruins newcomer and opposing goalie in 1999 if the Avs played their first game at Pepsi Center. He was an Avs minor-league goalie together with the Lake Erie Monsters (2009-11). But he played for the neighborhood NHL club.

6. Nick Shore
Jeff Gross, Getty ImagesNick Shore of this Los Angeles Kings looks on Before the start of the game against the Anaheim Ducks at Staples Center on Sept. 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.

F | Denver | 2014-present

Shore, 27, is a growth gem of this double-A Littleton Hockey Association and triple-A Colorado Thunderbirds. He’s presently a depth center for the Winnipeg Jets, playing with his NHL team in six seasons in the league. Shore followed his older brother Drew into the U.S. National Development Program in 2008 and played three years at the University of Denver in 2010-13 before signing with the Los Angeles Kings, that selected him 82nd overall in 2011.

5. David Hale
Jim McIsaac, Getty ImagesDavid Hale #2 of the New Jersey Devils skates with the puck against the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 10, 2007 in Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Blues won 3-2.

D | Colorado Springs | 2003-2011

Hale, 38, dominated the Colorado youth landscape before playing two years of junior-A for Sioux City and three for the University of North Dakota. As a freshman in 2000-2001, Hale played 44 games, including the last 1 — a 3-2 overtime loss to Boston College in the NCAA championship game. He was a 2002 first-round selection of New Jersey and played 327 NHL games for the Devils and four other teams. Hale also represented Colorado and his country in the 2001 World Junior Championship.

4. Troy Terry
Andy Cross, The Denver PostDenver University ahead Troy Terry.

F | Denver | 2018-present

The former University of Denver and U.S. World Junior star from Highlands Ranch is a second-year participant for the Anaheim Ducks and ranks eighth among Colorado sailors in NHL games played (81), goals (eight) and points (28). But he’s an American international celebrity who might become the nation ’s leading scorer one of NHLers. Terry, 22, played for Littleton and the Colorado Thunderbirds before enjoying one season in Michigan and graduating from high school in three years. He then combined DU as a 17-year-old and, being a sophomore, he helped the Pioneers win the 2017 NCAA championship — approximately four weeks after going 4-for-4 from shootouts to lead Team USA into World Junior Championship semifinal and final victories over Russia and Canada, respectively. Terry had both objectives.

3. Parris Duffus
Walter Swistelnicki, The Associated PressOtakar Vejvoda of the Czech Republic, left, slides the puck past U.S. goaltender Parris Duffus, center, to make the score 3-0 in the semifinal match in the World Ice Hockey Championships in Vienna, Friday, May 3, 1996.

G | Denver | 1996-97

Duffus played only 1 NHL game, together with the Phoenix Coyotes in 1997. However, the Denver native, 50, is known as the nation ’s best player of his generation. A Colorado high-school sensation, Duffus went to play juniors in Saskatchewan before starting a yearlong NCAA career at Cornell. He was commissioned by the St. Louis Blues in 1990 and, although his NHL career never thrived, he was a minor-league and European standout who led Team USA to a bronze medal in the 1996 World Championship — America’s first medal in 34 years. His career spanned 18 seasons.

2. Brandon Carlo
Jim Rogash, Getty ImagesMika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers presses as Brandon Carlo #25 of this Boston Bruins defends from the Bruins zone in the next period in TD Garden on November 5, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts.

D | Colorado Springs | 2016-present

Carlo, 23, is now a for the Boston Bruins, the NHL’s team, and the shutdown defenseman arrived a Game 7 victory shy of winning the Stanley Cup final summer. He grew up playing with your Colorado Springs Junior Tigers ahead of linking the Colorado Thunderbirds and cruising into the Denver Region. He picked the major-junior route together with all the WHL’s Tri-City Americans and has been selected by Boston 37th overall in 2015. He’s now considered one of the best five defensemen on his draft class.

1. Jaccob Slavin
John Leyba, The Denver PostCarolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) looks about against the Colorado Avalanche during the first phase March 7, 2017 in Denver at Pepsi Center.

D | Denver | 2015-present

After playing almost all his youth livelihood (18-under) in Colorado, Slavin, 26, is currently another captain and NHL All-Star for the Carolina Hurricanes. He performed Colorado double-A youth for Hyland Hills and Littleton, triple-A midget for its Colorado Thunderbirds’ 16U and 18U teams, even two years of junior-A in Chicago and 2 years in Colorado College before making an immediate impact with the Hurricanes, that “stole” him using the 120th selection of the 2012 draft. Slavin played only 14 games in the minors as a first year professional before becoming a crucial player for the Canes, who signed him to some seven-year, $37.1 million deal in 2017.

Associated Articles

Colorado Avalanche’s odds to win the Stanley Cup with all the newest 24-team playoff format

Back to hockey: NHL unveils strategies for 24-team playoff championship

Chambers: NHL players motivated to return for all the Correct reasons

How Gary Lane assisted deliver the Avalanche into Denver and the Stanley Cup soon followed

NHLPA approves moving forward together with 24-team playoff talks

Honorable mention: F Brandon (B.J.) Crombeen, Denver (type-1 diabetic mainly increased in Ontario, Canada, played 445 NHL games); F Brendan Lemieux, Denver (son of former Avs Claude Lemieux, identifies as being Canadian); D Joe Noris, Denver (played 55 NHL matches and 198 in rival WHL).

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