Welcome back.

It’s time to kick off Daily Faceoff’s second annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.

The criteria for being labeled a “prospect” are simple: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Skaters over 23 years old are not included, with goaltenders needing to be 25 or under.

Today, we’re looking at the Colorado Avalanche.

If you’re an Avs fan, you know their prospect pool stinks. This isn’t news.

Any team that’s all-in on pushing the Stanley Cup envelope will try and chase immediate help while sacrificing on long-term viability. After just two picks in 2022 – and none before the sixth round – the club took both Calum Ritchie and Mikhail Gulyayev on Day 1 in 2023 before taking most of Day 2 off. The Avs had nine picks in 2024, but none before overaged goaltender Ilya Nabokov at No. 38.

It’s honestly interesting to see how wonky their draft history has been the past few years. Since taking Cale Makar fourth overall in 2017, the Avs have taken five first-rounders who have gone on to play at least one game – Martin Kaut (2018), Bowen Byram, Alex Newhook (both 2019), Justin Barron (2020) and Oskar Olausson (2021). Of those, only Olausson is still with the organization, and his hopes of becoming a full-time NHLer seem to dwindle with every passing year.

The Avs only have one pick in the first three rounds in 2025 (the New York Rangers’ second rounder), so don’t expect the team to win any post-draft grades any time soon. But that’s fine, GM Chris MacFarland knows what the ultimate goal is.

Biggest Strengths

While I don’t envision any of them being real starter material, the fact the Avalanche have three goaltenders with backup potential – Justus Annunen, Ilya Nabokov and Trent Miner – in waiting is a positive sign. I’m all on board with teams who use at least one pick on a goaltender every year. The Avs used three this year, and if just one clicks, that’s huge. Alexandar Georgiev is the team’s starter, but he’s entering the final year of his contract, you need decent relief help, and I can see all three pushing for more starts over the next few years. For now, Annunen is NHL ready. And, hey, maybe none is the answer, and Louka Cloutier or Ivan Yunin become NHLers instead. It’s a decent spot to be in.

Biggest Weakness

There are plenty, which is to be expected when you boast one of the worst pipelines in the NHL. But I feel confident in saying there isn’t a single impact winger in waiting. Oskar Olausson looked primed for the big-time when they took him in the first round in 2021, but it feels like he hasn’t shown much improvement over the past two years. Injuries have limited some in the organization, but the team’s push for titles has prevented them from finding much in terms of future NHL talent on the wings.

Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Chris MacFarland
Dir. Scouting Operations: Scott Harris
Dir. of Player Development: Brian Willsie
AHL Affiliate: Colorado Eagles
ECHL Affiliate: Utah Grizzlies

*Calum Ritchie (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)*

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Calum Ritchie, C, 19 (Oshawa, OHL)

Acquired: Drafted 27th overall, first round in 2023

Ritchie is one of my favorite prospects in the world right now – his ability to keep adapting and learning makes him so effective. Many scouts wish he took his offensive game up another level in his draft season despite finishing as a point-per-game player. After a great U-18 World Championship was cut short due to a shoulder injury, Ritchie missed time in his third OHL campaign but set a new career-high with 52 assists and 80 points in 50 games played. Ritchie was also a serious contender for OHL playoff MVP with 30 points in 21 games, only for the Generals to fall in four games. Ritchie is a strong, smart, two-way center who can play against anyone and come out on top, and I fully believe he’ll be an impact player for the Avs in the long run. He just does so many things right, whether it be creating high-quality chances or helping out around his own net. I hope he gets a good look in camp – but at the very least, I expect Ritchie to be a big part of Canada’s World Junior squad.

2. Mikhail Gulyayev, LHD, 19 (Avangard Omsk, KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 31st overall, first round in 2023

Gulyayev successfully moved up to full-time KHL duty this year, showing a bit more urgency and confidence with the puck compared to his draft year. At 5-foot-10, the 19-year-old puck-moving defender is definitely a disadvantage, but he’s mobile and moves the puck quite well, regardless. I’d like to see Gulyayev become a bit stronger because there’s real top-four potential, and I expect him to take big steps forward offensively because he’s got excellent instincts. Gulyayev’s KHL deal ends in 2026, which I think is enough time for him to figure things out and make the push to the NHL.

3. Sean Behrens, LHD, 21 (University of Denver, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 61st overall, second round in 2021

*Sean Behrens (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)*

Behrens was a big part of Denver’s national championships in 2022 and 2024, and now he’s ready to take the next step forward in his career. He can hit and move the puck and is an incredibly smooth skater. Behrens uses his footwork to help him generate offense, but his own-zone play is what’ll make him the most valuable in the NHL. Behrens consistently found a way to make himself relevant on the scoresheet this year while still playing the solid defensive and physical style that made him an exciting draft prospect. Avs fans are excited, and for good reason – but they don’t need to rush him here. I expect at least one year with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles to allow him to maximize his ice time as quickly as possible.

4. Justus Annunen, G, 24 (Colorado Avalanche)

Acquired: Drafted 64th overall, third round in 2018

Annunen finally has a path to becoming a full-time NHLer next year. He has mainly spent the past three years with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, but he finally got his first real taste of NHL action with an 8-4-1 record, two shutouts, and a .928 save percentage in 14 games. The Avs relied on Alexandar Georgiev probably a bit too much last year and that was especially evident later in the season. But after Annunen showed promise in the second half of the year, it should give coach Jared Bednar a bit more confidence after bouncing between backups the past few years. Annunen might only be a backup at best, but that’s why you pay Georgiev the big bucks. Annunen is ready to give him a bit more of a break this year.

5. Oskar Olausson, RW, 22 (Colorado, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 28th overall, first round in 2021

You can see the raw potential in Olausson’s game – he loves to attack the puck and get himself into scoring lanes. But the results just haven’t been there yet and I’m not convinced they will. Olausson was limited to just 39 games this year due to injury but he was at least more productive on a point-per-game basis despite putting up the exact same numbers. His wrist shot is still NHL-quality, but he needs to simplify his playmaking to get the most out of his linemates. The 2024-25 season will be make-it-or-break-it for a guy with clear talent.

6. Ilya Nabokov, G, 21 (Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 38th overall, second round in 2024

Nabokov was the first goaltender taken in the 2024 NHL Draft after getting passed over three years in a row. The 6-foot-1 goaltender isn’t big, and that’s a large reason why teams were weary. But, as the oldest prospect from the most recent draft class, he brings serious potential. Despite being one of the youngest starters, he was one of the KHL’s top goaltenders and showed unbelievable athleticism and post-to-post movement. Scouts love his ability to move fluidly in the crease, and his raw talent will excite quite a bit of people.

7. Trent Miner, G, 23 (Colorado, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 202nd overall, seventh round in 2019

No team in this series has as much goalie representation as Colorado – and yet, I’m not sure any of them are more than just a backup. But still, having that type of depth is huge, and I think Miner has done enough this past year to become an interesting option for the club. He spent the past year splitting time between the AHL and ECHL and was excellent in both. With Annunen moving up to the big club, Miner’s pathway seems more straightforward this coming year, and that’s good. At the very least, he needs to outplay Jake Barczewski, who turned pro as an unsigned free agent after a fifth season of college last year.

8. Jean-Luc Foudy, C, 22 (Colorado, AHL)

*Jean-Luc Foudy (Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)*

Acquired: Drafted 75th overall, third round in 2020

I really wanted to like Jean-Luc, just like I enjoyed watching his brother, Liam, before it became clear he was destined for the minors. I do wonder if Jean-Luc is headed toward the same path after a difficult season impacted by injuries. He had just four goals and 14 points in 26 games this year – his fourth in the AHL – and just didn’t look as good as he did a year ago. Foudy is the best skater in this pipeline, though, and it feels like he showed he could use it to not only control the puck, but force turnovers with his pace. Could he carve out a niche as an energetic fourth-liner? I’m not convinced yet, but we’ll see.

9. Saige Weinstein, LHD, 19 (Spokane, WHL)

Acquired: Undrafted free agent signing in 2023

Weinstein’s story is interesting because he was signed to an entry-level contract just a few months after getting passed over in the draft for the first time. That’s extremely rare, but he impressed enough in camp to make himself a piece of the team’s long-term outlook. Weinstein hasn’t put up many points on the board over his WHL career, but 10 of his 25 points this year were goals, which is something. But for the most part, his game is about taking space away with his 6-foot-4 frame and playing a defensively responsible game. Could he be a bottom-pairing defenseman? The Avs clearly see something they like here.

10. Christian Humphreys, C, 18 (University of Michigan, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 215th overall, seventh round in 2024

Bold, maybe? I really like Humphreys and feel like he shouldn’t have fallen to the seventh round. When surveying members of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program this year, Humphreys was the name that kept coming up when discussing the most underrated member of the team. The key takeaway was that they thought he didn’t get the numbers he deserved, despite still scoring 23 goals and 58 points in 52 games. When Humphreys was selected to represent the USNTDP, he was considered one of the nation’s top AAA players, and I feel like he’s taken his game many steps forward since then. To see a playmaker as productive as him, and with the ability to be plugged in anywhere in a lineup and cause damage, fall to the seventh round doesn’t make much sense to me. He’s not overly physical, and his skating is still a work in progress, but he does so much in open space to be dangerous. Maybe Humphreys is a stretch here, but I like him more than most other prospects the team has right now.

Other notables: Will Zellers, C (18), Ivan Ivan, C (21), Maxmilian Curran, C (17), Chase Bradley, LW (22), Jake Fisher, C (19), Christian Humphreys, C (18), Nikita Prishchepov, LW (20), Maros Jedlicka, C (21), Zakhar Vardakov, C (23), Andrei Buyalsky, C (23), Taylor Makar, C (23), Colby Ambrosio, C (21), Tory Pitner, RHD (18), Nikita Ishimnikov, RHD (19), Chris Romaine, RHD (20), Louka Cloutier, G (17), Ivan Yunin, G (18)

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