The Colorado Avalanche had their eyes fixed on the future over the weekend, as they added to prospect pool at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
In total, the Avalanche selected six players. They did not have a fourth-round pick, having sent that to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Shawn Matthias trade.
In all, they added three forwards, two defensemen and a goaltender. Interestingly enough, each of their picks came from a different league. Do not expect to see any of the players suit up for the Avalanche next season.
On Friday, the Avalanche selected forward Tyson Jost in the first round (10th overall). They would follow that up with five more picks on Saturday.
Unlike last season, when the Avalanche sent Ryan O’Reilly to the Buffalo Sabres, the team did not execute a blockbuster trade during this draft. That doesn’t mean they were totally quiet however. They did send Nick Holden to the New York Rangers for a fourth-round selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
Interested in the lowdown on all of the players they added? You’re in luck. Here is a breakdown of each pick.
Round 1 (10th overall): Tyson Jost
Team: Penticton Vees (BCHL) Position: C/LW Ht: 5-11 Wt: 191 Shoots: L
2015-2016 stats: GP: 48 G: 42 A: 62 P: 104 PIM: 43 +/-: 0
Tyson Jost has a motor that just won’t stop. He is tenacious, fast and has a very high hockey IQ. Responsible at both ends of the ice, he also exudes leadership. He served as captain for both the Vees and Team Canada at the U-18 World Championship.
After winning the BCHL’s Most Valuable Player Award last season, Jost made a compelling argument against the aforementioned junior league being of a lower quality than some others. At the U18’s, he dominated, scoring nine goals and 15 points in seven games to break Conner McDavid’s Canadian scoring record.
Jost should fit well with the Avalanche, but likely will not join the club next season. He is committed to spend next season at the University of North Dakota, the alma mater of the NHL player he is most often compared to: Jonathan Toews.
Round 2 (40th overall): Cameron Morrison
Team: Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) Position: C/LW Ht: 6-2 Wt: 207 Shoots: L
2015-2016 stats: GP: 60 G: 34 A: 32 P: 66 PIM: 42 +/-: 38
Morrison might be exactly the kind of player the Avalanche need. He is smart, defensively responsible and knows how to use his size to his advantage. A bruising player, he could develop into a solid power forward, with a hard shot and a quick release.
What sticks out most about Morrison’s statistics is his plus/minus. He can be trusted in all situations. He was named the USHL’s Rookie of the Year last season, and was also named to the All-USHL First Team, after leading the league in game-winning goals (8).
Morrison is committed to the University of Notre Dame next season, but don’t expect him to play all four seasons with the Fighting Irish. His combination of size and smarts might land him a spot in the Avalanche’s bottom-6 in a couple of years.
Round 3 (71st overall): Josh Anderson
Team: Prince George Cougars (WHL) Position: D Ht: 6-2 Wt: 220 Shoots: L
2015-2016 stats: GP: 39 G: 1 A: 5 P: 6 PIM: 86 +/-: -4
A massive man, Anderson is the definition of a stay-at-home defenseman. He isn’t only big, but he is very strong and has a long reach. He is responsible in his own end, but also has a nasty mean streak, and can be provoked at times.
To be successful at the next level, Anderson will need to improve his skating. Shutdown defensemen are difficult to develop, often taking significant time to mature. He already has NHL-caliber strength; it will be interesting to see if he is able to develop into something for the Avalanche.
Round 5 (131st overall): Adam Werner
Team: Färjestad BK J20 (SuperElit) Position: G Ht: 6-5 Wt: 198 Catches: L
2015-2016 stats: GP: 30 Goals against average: 2.49 Save percentage: .916
Werner fulfills a positional need for the Avalanche, whose goaltending prospects were pretty thin after Calvin Pickard. Werner is huge, and has solid technique.
Werner played well for each of the four teams he suited up for. That being said, he will still need time to develop. With a need for someone to pair with Spencer Martin at the AHL level, the 19-year-old Swede may be brought over to North America as soon as next season
Round 6 (161st overall): Nathan Clurman
Team: Culver Military Academy Prep (USHS) Position: D Ht: 6-2 Wt: 190 Shoots: R
2015-2016 stats: GP: 20 G: 4 A: 12 P: 16 PIM: 29 +/-: 22
A native of Boulder, Colo. Clurman is only the second native of the Centennial State that the Avalanche have ever drafted (J.D. Corbin in 2004 was the other). Clurman has good size, but could stand to add muscle. He is a good skater, who is effective at moving the puck.
A project with a lot of upside, it will be interesting to see how he performs against tougher competition. He will get a chance next season, as he is committed to join the University of Notre Dame. He will be teammates with second-round pick Cameron Morrison with the Fighting Irish.
Round 7 (191st overall): Travis Barron
Team: Ottawa 67’s (OHL) Position: LW Ht: 6-1 Wt: 194 Shoots: L
2015-2016 stats: GP: 60 G: 13 A: 24 P: 37 PIM: 26 +/-: 7
Hockey is in Barron’s blood. His uncle is Andrew Cassles, who played in 1015 NHL games. Like his uncle, Barron is a smart player and a good passer. He also has great hands.
His offensive numbers weren’t stellar last season, but he had a good postseason, scoring six points in only five games. Still, offense is a bonus for Barron. He is outstanding defensively. Even if his offensive game does not develop, he could carve out a role as a winger on a checking line.
