Despite its exciting young group of volatile offensive-minded defensemen and also a need of a elite second-line center, the Avalanche may pick the best defenseman accessible with its No. 4 pick in the first version of the June 21 NHL draft.
In his yearly pre-draft conference call Thursday, Avs director of amateur wrestling Alan Hepple suggested that defenseman Bowen Byram will be difficult to pass on if he’s never chosen by Chicago in No. 3. The top two selections will be Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko, according to all draft projections.
Byram, also a 6-foot-1, 195-pound Canadian for major-junior’s Vancouver Giants, is ranked No. 2 among North American skaters, behind Hughes. Byram could force the Avs to pass on elite centers Kirby Dach (No. 3-ranked North American skater), Alex Turcotte (No. 4) and Dylan Cozens (No. 5).
Byram, who led all Western Hockey League players, regardless of standing, in scoring (26 points in 22 games), turned 18 Thursday.
“He’s defensemen here in the National Hockey League,” Hepple stated. “He skates, he moves the puck, his puck direction is incredible. His sense for the match — that he ’s got that small bite in his match, which grit, that I think is important … He’s going to be ceased. This kid is actually good. ”
To back up his support of Byram, Hepple explained the Avs — who got two first-round selections and five in the first 3 rounds — will choose the best player available in No. 4 and No. 16.
“We give (general director ) Joe (Sakic) the list and he then makes the telephone in the conclusion of the day — particularly the top-end selections, depending on the simple fact that he understands them, that he’s found them” Hepple stated. “Down the road, yeah, we want forwards right now but by the time some of these kids are prepared to play we may want defensemen again. So it’ll be the best player (accessible ), no thing, at 1 and 2 16. ”
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The Avs are poised to begin next season with volatile puck-moving, offensive-minded defensemen Tyson Barrie, Cale Makar along with Sam Girard, also perhaps Conor Timmins, who missed all last year with concussion-like symptoms.
Barrie, 27, goes next year in the last year of the $5.5 million yearly contract. Makar, 20, and Girard, 21, are inside their contracts. Colorado also has defensemen Erik Johnson, Ian Cole and Mark Barberio under contract next year, and is expected to measure limited free agents Nikita Zadorov along with Ryan Graves.
Byram could possibly play in the NHL next season, but also return to Vancouver for a second year in the WHL.
Footnotes. Together with their 16th pick, Hepple supported the Avs get interest in University of Denver incoming freshman forward Bobby Brink along with goalie Spencer Knight, ” the draft’s top-ranked goalie who’s signed with Boston College. Brink, the reigning United States Hockey League forward of this calendar year, is ranked 19th among North American skaters. Knight can eventually become the first goalie chosen at the first 20 picks because Tampa Bay picked Andrei Vasilevskiy No. 19 in 2012.
2019-20 AVALANCHE PRESEASON SCHEDULE
Day Date Opponent Time (MT) Location
Tue Sept. 17 VEGAS 7:00 p.m. Denver (Pepsi Center)
Thu Sept. 19 DALLAS 7:00 p.m. Denver (Pepsi Center)
Sat Sept. 21 in Minnesota 4:00 p.m. St. Paul (Xcel Energy Center)
Sun Sept. 22 MINNESOTA 5:00 p.m. Denver (Pepsi Center)
Wed Sept. 25 in Vegas 8:00 p.m. Las Vegas (T-Mobile Arena)
Sat Sept. 28 in Dallas 4:00 p.m. Dallas (American Airlines Center)
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