Avalanche Offseason
4 Prospects That Could Earn a Permanent Roster Spot With Avalanche
With training camp just weeks away, it’s starting to become more clear that the Avalanche are likely going to have at least one inexperienced forward in the lineup for opening night. And if not, it’s either because Logan O’Connor makes a surprise early return or nobody did enough to grabb a hold of that open spot.
It’s hard to predict where this season is going to go in terms of roster build. Often times, the storylines in August or September have no bearing on the roster by January, let alone after the trade deadline and into the postseason. But that doesn’t take away from the competitive nature of some of the talent in the pipeline.
The Avs have struggled with developing homegrown talent and prospects in recent years. This is well documented. They’ve not had much luck with guys on entry-level contracts making an impact since Alex Newhook and Bowen Byram.
But they’re hoping that could change this year.
Here are four inexperienced skaters that could make a difference at camp, and earn a permanent role in the lineup.
Zakhar Bardakov
This is the most obvious choice. Not necessarily because he’s already the best of the bunch; he might be. But because general manager Chris MacFarland went out of his way twice in June to mention Bardakov as a possible opening night player without even being asked.
Bardakov is a center, which the Avs need. He’s also 24 years old and has years of experience playing against top talent in the KHL. So he’s not necessarily a true pro hockey rookie.
At his age, and coming from the KHL, he’s likely not interested in being a full-time AHL player. He’ll have to earn his roster spot and after that, trust with Jared Bednar to get the ice time he wants. But that starts with a strong first impression at training camp.
If Bardakov cracks the opening night roster, he’d likely play with Joel Kiviranta and Parker Kelly. That’s not a bad pair of hard-working players to learn from. It could help him develop his game and trust with the coach.
Nikita Prishchepov
This might be the most intriguing one, at least to me. I’d argue that, of all the AHL regulars who are probably going to get called up at some point this season, Prishchepov is the most talented. He’s got the most finesse, skill, and probably even potential to be a legitimate middle six point producer in the NHL.
But we’ve seen this story before. The Avs have had talented prospects come through the pipeline that haven’t developed into NHL regulars. Guys like Sampo Ranta, Shane Bowers, and Martin Kaut come to mind.
Could Prishchepov be different? I know the production wasn’t there, but he was up there with Ivan Ivan as one of the more impressive AHL depth options last season. He’s also been skating at Family Sports for weeks and working hard to really ensure he can make an impression at training camp.
Gavin Brindley
This is a player we probably should be talking about more. Brindley wasn’t just a throw-in from the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood deal. He’s a 21-year-old prospect that the Avs had high on their draft list in 2023 when they selected Calum Ritchie and Mikhail Gulyayev late in the first round.
Brindley ended up getting selected No. 34 overall — just seven spots after Ritchie and three behind Gulyayev.
Listed at just 5’8, 173 lbs, Brindley is going to have his work cut out for him. At that size, he’ll need to be strong on the forecheck and play a fearless brand of hockey to stick out, especially with Bednar.
He’s probably the only guy I’d put up there with Prishchepov in terms of raw talent.
Ivan Ivan
I mentioned him earlier, but if anyone was closest to achieving this goal in 2024-25, it was him. Ivan dressed in 40 games for the Avalanche in a depth role. He had flashes of offensive production early in the season, but that went away as the season progressed.
But just having that experience will work in Ivan’s favor. He did enough last year to earn Bednar’s trust, and he likely has the most insider information from this group on what the head coach wants from a depth forward. Can he capitalize on that?
I saw enough of Ivan last year to know he is an emergency NHL player at most. He chases the game and either lags in our zone or gets left in theirs. He is simply not mentally quick enough for the NHL. It isn’t adjusting to the speed, its anticipation, and he doesn’t have it.
Agree. I think he’s a good AHL player. But I don’t see him as a regular bottom 6 forward. You’d think considering their top 6 is pretty fortified & has been for awhile now (outside of 2C at points). That they would seek out players who profile more as middle 6 or more specifically bottom 6 forwards. I don’t get their philosophy. Prischepov, Ivan, Brindley where are they going to fit long term? These are all “skill” guys. Nothing about their games translate to what you should want from your bottom 6 forward core. Penalty killing, physicality, defensively responsible, the… Read more »
I would add Taylor Makar to this list as well. It’s not just the name (though I’m sure that will help him), but also the growth he showed in his last college season. He played a meaningful role for a Maine team that earned a #1 seed at the Frozen Four, and was arguably one of their 3 best players. He played a 200 foot game and was used on both special teams, and when I watched him I saw shades of Nichushkin in his game. He’s 24 already, and is enormous (6’4″, 200+ lbs), so he’s arguably NHL ready… Read more »
FYI, T. Makar is at today’s skate in a red jersey. He reportedly had off-season surgery
If I were coaching the Avs, here would be my opening night lineup:
Landeskog – MacKinnon – Nichushkin
Lehkonen – Nelson – Necas
T. Makar – Drury – Colton
Kelly – Bardakov – Brindley
Toews – C. Makar
Girard – Manson/Burns (rotation)
Gagne – Malinski
Blackwood
Wedgewood
Bench/reserve: Kiviranta, Olofsson, Middleton, Manson/Burns
It won’t ever happen, but I think it would be a fun lineup.
Makar-Colton-olofsson
Kelly drury bardakov
Kiviranta
LOC
Middleton as extra.
What?? I see what you’re going for with the young guys. But this is a team with cup aspirations. You ice the best guys, who give you the best chance to win. All of the following should be in your opening night lineup. Kivi, Olofsson, Burns & Manson.
It would be like a base jump off the Chrysler Building fun! With 3 college players and a 1 yr mini pro forward in the opening night lineup, it’s high risk with a low ceiling venture. I don’t see Bednar having Kivi, Olofsson and Burns/Manson all riding the pine.
As I said, it won’t ever happen, for exactly the reason you said. Bednar has a notoriously short leash for young players – which in my opinion has stunted a lot of their growth potential – so of course he’s going to roll with the vets. My lineup was a hypothetical if I were in charge of setting the lineup, because I’d like to know what we have with some of these guys.
Right now the Avs have a full lineup. They have 12 forwards, 7 d-men, and 2 goalies. With O’Connor injured, they only have one open lineup space. The only position that needs filling is a bottom 6 center for which ever line Drury is not on. Unless someone gets hurt or traded, only one of the above will make the lineup, unless the Avs carry an extra forward to start the season. I do not see the Avs benching Kiviranta or Olofsson, unless they get hurt or their play is bad in camp. I see the 4 above and other’s… Read more »
Good point. Can’t see Kivi and Olof not starters.
I don’t know if I’d write Kivi into the lineup in pen. He seems more likely to be a fill guy, who will stay on the Avs roster the whole season because he doesn’t need development time in the AHL. The two things he has going for him are that he kills penalties and appears to have Bednar’s trust. But his ceiling is low enough that it wouldn’t be unheard of for him to be beaten out by one or more of the guys mentioned. Remember, he would have likely been the healthy scratch when Landeskog came back for the… Read more »
Ideally, Kiviranta would be the 13th forward and he may be once O’Connor returns. The Avs gave Kiviranta $1.25M, so I do not see him sitting over a rookie, unless the rookie is really playing well. Killing penalties is the biggest advantage he has over others. If Drury plays 3C, then the biggest hole is 4C. Will Bardakov go there or will they need to have Kelly play center. Bardakov has an advantage if he can play center, if not, then who will replace O’Connor on wing is up for grabs, with the ability to PK and play defensively being… Read more »
Also with Taylor Makar. I like the size & that he profiles as more of a natural bottom 6 depth piece. But honest question to anyone who watches or pays closer attention to the Avs prospects. Would anybody have any optimism or hope for him to be a pro. If his last name wasn’t Makar?
I do not give much hope for most Avs prospects, especially when they do not have much time yet in the AHL. Let’s see what Makar can do this year.
I put T Makar in the same category as Gagne, the undrafted college FA they just signed. Both of their senior years were their most productive. Are they late bloomers or did they finally have success when they were older and bigger/stronger than their college competition? I’d like to see how both do in the AHL against older grown men before gauging whether they’re NHL players