2016 Top 25 Avalanche under 25: #21 Nate Clurman

Before we get into the 21st player on our Top 25 Avalanche Under 25 list, be sure to check out the list leading up to today: #25 Turner Elson, #24 Andrei Mironov, #23 Sam Henley, #22 Cameron Morrison. Today we focus on #21, Nate Clurman, a sixth-round selection just over a month ago in the NHL Draft.

Clurman is our first player profiled to appear on all seven of the ballots turned in and he averaged a ranking of 22.6. He’s a player with a lot of hype around him after his strong showing at Avalanche development camp but sadly his decision to return to his prep school will keep us from being able to watch him develop in the USHL.

Who is Nate Clurman?

Clurman was a complete unknown at the time of his drafting as he was barely on most scouting lists and even the ones he appeared on had very little to say about him. As a draft-eligible player still in prep school, Clurman’s development track figures to be an extensive one and his decision to eschew the USHL next season is one we hope he re-visits.

Not many sixth round picks inspire immediate confidence from a fan base but after seeing the 6’2″, 190 pound Clurman do work at Avalanche development camp in July, fans are excited about the swift-skating defenseman. His all-around skill set jumped off the ice and created a certain amount of buzz for those who attended the sessions.

Clurman, a Boulder, Colorado native, will likely play next season at the Culver Military Academy before making the leap to college hockey, where he will join fellow Avs-draftee Cameron Morrison at Notre Dame in 2017-18.

What is the future for Nate Clurman?

This question is at the heart of the excitement around Clurman. Players drafted near the end of the draft are typically guys who have shown ability in specific roles or have one or two individual skills that teams believe they can work with. Clurman has it all as he has shown good skating, good puck skills, solid hockey IQ, and a strong mental approach to the game.

Clurman showed so many different facets to his game that even Avalanche Scouting Director Alan Hepple could barely contain his excitement in interviews when discussing the sixth round selection.

As Clurman is likely heading back to Culver next season, his development will be done in relative anonymity. When he goes to Notre Dame in 2017, he will arrive on campus with little fanfare and muted expectations. From an Avalanche perspective, the adjustment to the bigger, faster college game will be a key to determining how serious of a pro prospect Clurman eventually comes to be.

In the eyes of the BSN Avalanche staff, there’s obvious excitement (appearing on all seven ballots, something only 10th overall selection Tyson Jost managed from the 2016 draft class) but it’s fair to call it cautious optimism, as the highest ranking given to Clurman was 18th (by me). He’s a player to keep an eye on and a prospect who will likely move up this list a number of times in the next few years if he develops the way we hope he does.