Less than two weeks after the NHL Draft, the Avalanche have started their annual development camp. This is a time when the prospects come together and get familiar on the ice with the organization and to show off some skills with hope of being utilized by the team in the upcoming season.
On Tuesday morning the Avs prospects split into three squads, blue, burgundy and grey, with the goaltenders in black, and started skating training. The skating training was led by Tracy Tutton. She is a technical skating instructor from Elite Training Systems out of Canada. The former figure skating coach has worked with NHL teams like the Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning since 2011, according to the Athlete Training Centre.
Tutton previously worked with former Avs defenseman Adam Foote during his time in the NHL. Foote was on the ice with Tutton working with the prospects for today’s camp.
Power skating drills. Adam Foote filming the players' strides. Been very cool to watch Foote engage. He's a beast pic.twitter.com/bDisNl9q68
— Kyle Keefe (@kylekeefetv) July 7, 2015
Tutton might look out of place – a tiny blonde woman on the ice with a bunch of burly hockey players – but she knows what she is doing. Her experience is definitely making an impression according to Altitude Sports and Entertainment analyst Kyle Keefe.
Connor Bleackley looks fast and explosive. Mikko was solid. The skating drills from Tracy Tutton were impressive. Team Blue is next…
— Kyle Keefe (@kylekeefetv) July 7, 2015
This year’s draft picks are not taking the development camp lightly. Mikko Rantanen told reporters what he wants to improve on to up his chances of ice time next season.
“First couple of strikes with the skates, explosiveness to my skating,” said Rantanen. “And of course shots can always be quicker and harder.”
Tuesday is day one of three of the development camp held at Family Sports Center in Centennial. Days two and three will continue with on-ice work and off-ice work with the staff to get a feel of each of the prospects and what each has to offer to the Avalanche.
Sabrina Naccarato, a Mile High Sports intern and MSU-Denver student, contributed to this report