Avalanche Prospect Portfolio: Mid-round Canadians shine

As winter weather arrives in Colorado Avalanche prospects continue to progress in their development. Some are already seeing large gains while others struggle to find their feet in new environments. The next few months are key periods of growth as they look to find consistency.

Prospect of the Week:

Nick Henry – RW (Colorado Eagles) round 4, pick 94, 2017

Henry has now snagged the highest-scoring AHL prospect spot. They don’t call him Hustle Hank for nothing as he simply outworked everyone else to generate points this week. Driving the net and cleaning up rebounds is quickly becoming his calling card but his ability to out-race and out-muscle opponents in the corners for puck battles is where he’s really going to make his money. He still hasn’t had much opportunity to show his shot in the AHL but if/when he moves out of this bottom-six role into more of a middle-six one, that is another weapon in his arsenal.

Pro Standouts:

Josh Dickinson – C (Utah Grizzlies) Undrafted college signing

For the second week in a row, Dickinson sits atop the ECHL in goal scoring continuing to produce at a torrid pace. For an Eagles team that has struggled to score goals particularly on the power play, Dickinson seems like an ideal candidate for a call-up opportunity. Especially now that there is a bit more roster room with Megna called up to the Avs.

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

Barron has made a fearsome tandem alongside Dickinson in the ECHL. Both sit tied for second in the league in points and on most nights seem capable of scoring at will. With so many of the Avs AHL prospects not worthy of being a standout you have to wonder what it will take to get an opportunity and if this offense can translate to the AHL level let alone NHL.

KHL:

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

Kovalenko managed to get himself back on the scoresheet with an assist this week. His physicality and offensive involvement have started to find steadiness in the second half of October. The total production numbers are still lower than ideal but his game continues to look built for a bottom-six NHL role in the future.

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

A two-point weak for Zhuravlyov means he has already surpassed his VHL point total from last season in less than half the games played. His hockey IQ seems to set him apart as he continues to fit in effortlessly at the KHL level as a 19-year-old. The only gripe is he needs to shoot more.

Liiga (Finland):

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

Annunen crossed the finish line, setting a new record for the longest shutout streak in the Liiga. That streak would come to an end in the third period where he would get beat three times in a matter of a few minutes, but he would still pull out the win and then go on to win a second game later in the week. His numbers while still astronomical, are starting to come back down to reality. Nine games in and still yet to record a loss, that speaks for itself.

NCAA:

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

Clurman is a bit of an odd case. Much like a poor man’s Drew Helleson, he is never likely to show very well in stat drops like this. His defensive style fits Notre Dame to a T and that shows through boasting an obscene +11 through four games. For all of the issues with +/- as a stat, the next highest on the team is +6. While a half-point per game may not seem like much, if this defense isn’t an aberration there is still a small sliver of hope here.

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

BC only played in a single game this week in which they suffered a blowout loss to Providence. While Helleson’s stat sheet isn’t particularly noteworthy he did register two shots on goal. Getting more involved and rounding out his offensive game would be very nice to see given the fact the Avs were willing to take him in the second round.

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

As Leivermann continues to settle in as an every game player in the NCAA his offensive involvement is apparent having registered a shot on goal in every single game. His playstyle is going to continue to clash with the Notre Dame way of thinking and he is going to have to prove his worth by continuing to produce every week. Registering another assist is good but not great.

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

There were two different versions of Morrison on the ice this week. Game one Morrison was extremely involved offensively registering four shots on goal and picking up two assists including one beauty. Game two Morrison disappeared a bit in a high scoring affair and for the first time this year, was held scoreless. One dropped game isn’t really even enough to blip on the radar but as a senior, he needs to make sure it doesn’t stretch into anything more.

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

For a team that looks extremely talented on paper, it has not been a great start for BC. It’s clear Newhook is feeling this as the transition from the BCHL to the NCAA has not been seamless. At the NHL level, Newhook may not be someone that can carry a line on his own but at the college level, he needs to figure out how to do it.

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

Another college player held scoreless this week, Ranta is still averaging nearly three shots per game but does not have the well-rounded game some of the others here do. Any week where he isn’t showing up on the score sheet is not a good week for him as offensive consistency is the biggest step for him to make at this point.

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

The third forward prospect in a row with zero points this week. Smirnov continues to find himself stuck in the middle-six at Penn State as a senior. Not much else to say here.

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

UNO did not have a game this week.

QMJHL:

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

Beaucage cranked it up to 11 this week notching six points in three games. He leads the Huskies in both goals and points and stands tied for fifth in the league overall in goals. His hands are a cut above this league and he has shown great patience with the puck.

WHL:

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

Finally breaking out of his skid Burzan put up six points this week but also had two scoreless games. Brandon has become a feast or famine team, either annihilating their competition and padding stats or getting blown out of the water, rarely in-between. As a 19-year-old and team points leader the hope is he can be traded somewhere with more talent. The sooner the better.

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