NCAA Hockey began in earnest this week, and all but one Avs prospect have jumped into their seasons now. With the Colorado Eagles having played just a single game this week the prospect of the week turns towards the high end of the Avs junior players.

Prospect of the Week:

Bowen Byram – D (Vancouver Giants) round 1, pick 4, 2019

AHL Standouts:

The Colorado Eagles played just a single game this week, the game itself turned into quite the barn burner with the Eagles mounting a two-goal comeback in the last three minutes to tie the game and was eventually completed by a Jacob MacDonald game-winner in overtime. The Eagles were led by their veterans T.J. Tynan (3 A) and Jayson Megna (2 G) and the only bonafide Avs prospect to record a point was goaltender Adam Werner who managed an assist.

Adam Werner – G (Colorado Eagles) round 5, pick 131, 2016

Werner survived his second start of the year to help the Eagles to their first win of the season. The 6’5 giant hasn’t posted the best numbers to start the year but they are respectable given the Eagles defensive struggles and he didn’t give up a critical fourth goal that would have dashed the Eagles comeback.

Travis Barron – LW (Utah Grizzlies) round 7, pick 191, 2016

Technically ECHL not AHL but honorable mention to Travis Barron scoring in both of the first two games down in Utah.

KHL:

Nikolai Kovalenko – RW (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl) round 6, pick 171, 2018

Another odd week for Kovalenko, he has seen an increase in minutes now regularly pushing into the mid-teens but he failed to record a shot on goal and was once again a scratch in one of three games this week. He may be managing some sort of ailment but I lean more towards the idea that this is just how Lokomotiv handles their young talent.

Daniil Zhuravlyov – D (Ak Bars Kazan) round 5, pick 146, 2018

Zhuravlyov’s first week of the season without a point, kind of a split week for him. On one hand, he had three shots on goal in two games and set a new personal high in time on ice with 18:48, but in that same game, he went -3 as Ak Bars got beaten handily. Averaging just a bit more than half a shot per game, seeing Zhuravlyov shoot more is encouraging as he still searches for his first KHL goal.

Liiga (Finland):

Justus Annunen – G (Oulun Kärpät) round 3, pick 64, 2018

Another week, another start, another shutout. Annunen is making the absolute most of the time he is getting in the Liiga. Over one month into his season and is still undefeated as well as having a GAA under one. He still hasn’t truly been peppered; his season-high in shots faced is just 25. Without a doubt, he has earned more starts and hopefully against tougher opponents.

NCAA:

Nate Clurman – D (Notre Dame) round 6, pick 161, 2016

Despite entering his fourth year as an Avs prospect Clurman is just a Sophomore at Notre Dame taking a significantly longer path then nearly any other prospect in any other organization. Billed as more of a stay at home defensemen he got off to a solid start this year picking up an assist in game one and showing a knack for some good breakout passes. His path is still mighty long if he wants to make the NHL but this could be the first year of significant progress.

Drew Helleson – D (Boston College) round 2, pick 47, 2019

The Avs second round pick from this year’s draft settled into his Freshman year with a couple of wins alongside Alex Newhook at BC. Helleson is never likely to show well in this format, he is unlikely to ever post big stat lines and more geared toward holding things down defensively. At some point, you would like to see his production pick up but it’s not something to bank on this season.

Nicky Leivermann – D (Notre Dame) round 7, pick 187, 2017

The more offensive-minded half of the Avs Notre Dame defensive prospects, this year is a large one for Leivermann as he needs to take a step forward or risk being written off. His freshman year saw him as the seventh defenseman playing in extremely limited minutes and he never really got the opportunity to show his stuff. This year he will and unlike the other NCCA defensemen in this category production and stat lines are a must for him.

Cam Morrison – LW (Notre Dame) round 2, pick 40, 2016

Entering his senior year Morrison has said himself that he needs to dominate this league. He is certainly off to a good start with two goals in two games. One came with him working in around the net as Notre Dame loves to deploy him, the other a beautiful wrister that got him drafted and hopefully something that will be seen a lot more this year.

Alex Newhook – C (Boston College) round 1, pick 16, 2019

Newhook failed to record a point in BC’s two wins over Wisconsin and Colgate. Of course, the idea is that first-rounders immediately jump off the page and stand out but the jump from junior A is not a small one. BC is a team loaded with talent this year, (12 NHL drafted players) and Newhook is one of just six freshmen on the team. The points will come.

Sampo Ranta – LW (Minnesota) round 3, pick 78, 2018

Ranta is a player with the underlying talent to be an offensive juggernaut if he can put all of the pieces together. A body built of marble, fleet feet and a shot that could kill are all traits Ranta possesses. Consistency is the obvious step he needs to take and he should have the opportunity to showcase himself on the world stage with Finland’s world junior team this year.

Denis Smirnov – LW (Penn State) round 6, pick 156, 2017

I’ll be honest here, as a senior Smirnov would have to have a truly incredible season to earn a contract at this point. Drafted for his high octane offense he has spent the past two years battling illness and injury and never really seemed to find consistency on the ice. Penn State has a fresh new crop of young talent, some of which has already passed him up and a two-assist start to the year is nice but far from the top ranks as Penn State scored 13 goals over the weekend.

Tyler Weiss – LW (Nebraska Omaha) round 4, pick 109, 2018

Weiss managed to pick up an assist on opening night but he also managed to get himself a match penalty for interference which I cannot speak to as I did not see it. He did not play in the second game of the weekend but it was not clear if that is because he was suspended or if there was some other issue. Weiss battled injuries throughout his freshmen year but produced well when healthy. Being able to suit up is key for the Sophomore’s future.

QMJHL:

Alex Beaucage – RW (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) round 3, pick 78, 2019

Four points in three games mark another big week for Beaucage. He does tend to disappear for a game at times but as he leads all Avs prospects in goals he is doing exactly what he should be. He also showed off a side of his game we haven’t seen much with some nice facilitation here:

WHL:

Luka Burzan – RW (Brandon Wheat Kings) round 6, pick 171, 2019

Yet another player with just one game this week, Burzan failed to record a point as Brandon came up short in a low scoring affair against Saskatoon. We are far enough into the WHL season that the sample size is at least somewhat useable and Brandon sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Offense continues to be a struggle for the Wheat Kings as Burzan still leads the way with seven points.