The first returnee from last year’s list, “Big Sam” Henley slots in at 23 this year. Henley actually had an average rank of 22.6 across the six ballots he appeared on so him landing at 23 seems pretty fitting overall. The burly Rampage forward is entering the final year of his entry-level contract after appearing in

The burly Rampage forward is entering the final year of his entry-level contract after appearing in 130 AHL games over the last two seasons and is one of the true dark horse prospects in the Avalanche system. He’s not a player with a lot of flash to his game but the previous coaching staff’s questionable use of him leads to plenty of optimism that this upcoming season will be a better barometer of his future potential.

Who is Sam Henley?

Henley landed in the Avalanche organization as an undrafted free agent and coming off a Memorial Cup run with Val-d’Or of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He has been playing for Colorado’s AHL affiliates, first Lake Erie and then San Antonio, for the past two seasons and producing modest point totals while being tasked with playing with enforcers and more of a grinder role.

While Henley certainly isn’t ill-fit to more of a checking role, he has flashed a little offensive potential and while a long-time center, some of Henley’s most encouraging work has come along the wall as a left wing. He’s a freight train of a player who uses his huge, 6’4″, 210-pound frame to barrel down the ice and get after opponents.

He’s a smart player who plays a responsible defensive game and could be a strong penalty killer in the NHL if his all-around game ever matures to the point where the Avalanche want to call him up.

What is the future for Sam Henley?

Henley’s future is one I’ve debated with a number of people who closely follow prospects. There’s a common thought that the incoming San Antonio coaching staff, led by Eric Veilleux, will use Henley more appropriately and not pigeon hole him as the guy who has to skate with the enforcers simply because he’s also big.

Henley should see more time as a wing this year and be given more of a legitimate opportunity to showcase his all-around game than he has up to this point in his career.

As far as impacting the Avalanche, it makes sense to see Henley as a replacement if a guy like Cody McLeod or Andreas Martinsen suffers an injury as he can play a similar style to those two. He’s a natural fit as a penalty-killing, hard-hitting winger who lives to make life hell on the opposition.

His true north-south and “keep it simple, stupid” mentality is a perfect complement to his skillset as he understands big bodies hit hard and excel at doling out physical punishment throughout the course of a game.

I’ve always enjoyed Henley’s game and am excited to see what he does with a fresh coaching perspective entering San Antonio this season. Will he carve out a future with the Avalanche or is this his final go-round in the organization?