Avalanche Prospect Report: Bowers powers the Terriers

Nick Leivermann (34GP – 7G, 20A) – 2017 Round 7, Pick 187 (Defenseman, Penticton Vees – BCHL)

Another week on the mend for Colorado’s seventh-round defensive prospect. The Penticton Vees originally said 4-6 weeks for Nick Leivermann, so you’ve got to think he’s nearing a return in the next couple of weeks.

Conor Timmins (28 GP – 6G, 28A) – 2017 Round 2, Pick 32 (Defenseman, Soo Greyhounds – OHL)

It sounded like the team was planning on getting him back over the weekend, but Conor Timmins sat out again this week. He was injured in one of his first games back for the WJCs. The Soo Greyhounds were saying just a couple weeks on the sidelines when Timmins first went down – that’s pretty much right where we’re at. Let’s hope Timmins can pick up where he left off when he gets back into game action.

Travis Barron (49 GP – 13G, 26A) – 2016 Round 7, Pick 191 (Left Wing, Ottawa 67’s – OHL)

After absolutely going off last week, Travis Barron fell back to earth a bit this week. While the Ottawa 67’s’ captain didn’t record any points in the two games his team played, he did, however, manage seven shots on goal between the pair of games.

Jan. 28: vs Oshawa Generals

L (OT) 4-3 – 0G, A

Feb. 2: vs Niagara IceDogs

W 6-5 – 0G, 0A

Ty Lewis (53 GP – 28G, 50A) – Undrafted (Left Wing, Brandon Wheat Kings – WHL)

The Brandon Wheat Kings finally returned home after playing seven games on the road over the course of 10 days – seven games in that short of a time frame is tough enough but when you add in traveling by bus to six different cities, it takes a serious toll. Brandon went winless on the trip and the whole team looked like they were still recovering from the travel in their first game back home. They were able to get back in the win column on the second night of a back to back – you guessed it, thanks to the help of Ty Lewis.

Feb. 2: vs Prince George Cougars

L 3-2 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 3: vs Red Deer Rebels

W (OT) 4-3 – 0G, 2A

Nick Henry (36 GP – 8G, 16A) – 2017 Round 4, Pick 94 (Right Wing, Regina Pats – WHL)

Just one assist this week for Nick Henry. And maybe it could’ve been more, but his team had the misfortune of playing the monster that is the Swift Current Broncos at the start of the week. The game that really bothers me for Henry is his team’s 5-4 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders – Henry was held off the scoresheet and was a -3 on the night.

Jan. 28: vs Swift Current Broncos

L 4-1 – 0G, 0A

Jan. 31: vs Prince George Cougars

W 4-1 – 0G, 1A

Feb. 3: vs Prince Albert Raiders

W (OT) 5-4 – 0G, 0A

Josh Anderson (37 GP – 2G, 9A) – 2016 Round 3, Pick 71 (Defenseman, Swift Current Broncos – WHL)

I think Josh Anderson is enjoying life with his new team. He picked up his first goal as a Bronco this week and earned the second star of the night honors in their shutout win over his former club Prince George.

Jan. 28: @ Regina Pats

W 4-1 – 0G, 0A

Jan. 30: vs Prince George Cougars

W 4-0 – 1G, 0A

Feb. 2: vs Lethbridge Hurricanes

L 5-2 – 0G, 0A

Gustav Olhaver (41 GP – 6G, 6A) – 2015 Round 7, Pick 191 (Center, IK Oskarshamn – Allsvenskan)

Writing about Gustav Olhaver is exhausting. It’s just the same thing week after week. He’s a 12-point player in the second best league in Sweden – I don’t see him ever making the jump to the NHL.

Jan. 29: vs IF Björklöven

L 4-0 – 0G, 0A

Jan. 31: vs MODO Hockey

L 4-1 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 2: @ White Horse

L 3-1 – 0G, 0A

Adam Werner (35 GP – 2.43 GAA, .911 sv%) – 2016 Round 5, Pick 131 (Goaltender, IF Björklöven – Allsvenskan)

Maybe Werner’s best week since the creation of the BSN prospect report. Three games, three wins, and three really strong performances. It’s weeks like this that you can talk yourself into him being in a backup role with the Colorado Eagles next year.

Jan. 29: vs IK Oskarshamn

W 4-0 – 0GA, 1.000 Save Percentage

Jan. 31: vs BIK Karlskoga

W 3-1 – 1GA, .967 Save Percentage

Feb. 2: vs Leksands IF

W 4-1 – 2GA, .951 Save Percentage

Petr Kvaca ( 28 GP – 1.57 GAA, .931 sv%) – 2017 Round 4, Pick 114 (Goaltender, ČEZ Motor České Budějovice – Czech 2)

I’m going o go ahead and give Petr Kvaca a mulligan here. Everyone has the occasional bad game – and his season totals are still fantastic. Look for him to bounce back.

Jan. 29: @ LHK Jestřábi Prostějov

L 7-2 – 7GA, .774 Save Percentage

Igor Shvyrov (30 GP – 1G, 0A) – 2017 Round 5, Pick 125 (Center, Metallurg Mg – KHL)

Unlike the NHL, the KHL is breaking for the Olympics. No games for a few weeks.

Cam Morrison (28 GP 4G, 11A)- 2016 Round 2, Pick 40 (Left Wing, Notre Dame – NCAA)

Quiet week for Cam Morrison as his team played fellow Avalanche prospect Denis Smirnov and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Nothing on the scoresheet in either game of the series in which his team came out with one win and a tie.

Feb. 2: @ Penn State

W 5-3 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 3: @ Penn State

Tie 2-2 – 0G, 0A

Denis Smirnov (22 GP – 13G, 9A) – 2017 Round 6, Pick 156 (Winger, Penn State – NCAA)

I talked with AJ Haefele a bit on the BSN Avalanche Draft Podcast last week about Denis Smirnov being somewhat of a dark horse in the Avalanche organization to be an impact player long term. If there’s anything that holds him back, it’s going to be his size. But of course, I talk him up and he comes out and doesn’t do much the following couple of games. Don’t expect this to be the new norm.

Feb. 2: vs Notre Dame

W 5-3 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 3: vs Notre Dame

Tie 2-2 – 0G, 0A

Shane Bowers (28 GP – 13G, 9A) – 2017 Round 1, Pick 28 (Center, Boston University – NCAA)

Just one game for the Boston University Terriers this week, and Shane Bowers showed out, scoring a highlight reel goal and adding an assist for good measure against Cale Maker and the UMass Minutemen. All passengers for the Shane Bowers hype train, please report to platform #5.

Feb. 2: @ Mass Amherst Minutemen

W 3-2 – 1G, 1A

Cale Makar (24 GP – 3G, 12A)— 2017 Round 1, Pick 4 (UMass Amherst – NCAA)

Last week we wrote that his injury was precautionary and that he should return quickly. And return quickly he did. Cale Makar got back into game action this week, and would you imagine that, he had an impact in both games, doing everything he could to drag his team over the finish line. Unfortunately, one player can only do so much.

Feb. 2: vs Boston University

L 3-2 – 0G, 1A

Feb. 3: @ New Hampshire

L 3-1 – 0G, 1A

Mason Geertsen (42 Gp – 2G, 1A) – 2013 Round 4, Pick 93 (Defenseman, SA Rampage – AHL)

One final game at home for the Rampage before they embarked on their annual “Rodeo Roadtrip”. I’m sure the players are mostly looking forward to moving to Loveland so they can stop having to play 12 consecutive road games every February. Anyway – as you probably guess before you even read this, zero points this week for Geertsen. Yes, he’s a shutdown guy not known for his offense… but can you give me something? (Ed’s note: It’s not about you, Jesse, sheesh)

Feb. 2: vs Texas Stars

W 4-2 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 3: @ Texas Stars

L 5-1 – 0G, 0A

Julien Nantel (37 GP – 6G, 0A) – 2014 Round 7, Pick 204 (Left Wing, SA Rampage – AHL)

Nantel was someone else we discussed on the podcast recently as being someone who some people within the organization thought could be a fit on the wing in the future for the Avalanche. But his rocky season is putting his potential for advancement in jeopardy.

Feb. 2: vs Texas Stars

W 4-2 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 3: @ Texas Stars

L 5-1 – 0G, 0A

AJ Greer (15 GP – 6G, 3A) – 2015 Round 2, Pick 39 (Left Wing, SA Rampage – AHL)

I’m debating removing Greer from this prospect report, even if just temporarily – he’s spending an awful lot of time with the Avalanche.

Nicolas Meloche (31 GP – 2G, 5A)-  2015 Round 2, Pick 40 (Defenseman, San Antonio Rampage – AHL)

Nicolas Meloche picked up an assist this week! After seeing this kid live earlier in the year, I have really high hopes for what he can do. Now that he’s seeing consistent ice time, I think the Avs have a real player on their hands.

Feb. 2: vs Texas Stars

W 4-2 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 3: @ Texas Stars

L 5-1 – 0G, 1A

Rocco Grimaldi (34 GP – 13G, 10A) – 2011 Round 2, Pick 33 (Right Wing, SA Rampage – AHL)

It was a down week for San Antonio most tenured player. After returning for the AHL All-Star weekend (where he showed out pretty well for himself) Grimaldi didn’t contribute much of anything in either if the team’s games.

Feb. 2: vs Texas Stars

W 4-2 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 3: @ Texas Stars

L 5-1 – 0G, 0A

Chris Bigras (8 GP – 0G, 1A) – 2013 Round 2, Pick 32 (Defenseman, SA Rampage – AHL)

Chris Bigras is finally back! He didn’t get on the scoresheet, but that wasn’t what was important for him this week. Him getting back into games and progressing is what he needs to focus on.

Feb. 2: vs Texas Stars

W 4-2 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 3: @ Texas Stars

L 5-1 – 0G, 0A

Andrei Mironov (22 GP – 1G, 8A) – 2015 Round 4, Pick 101 (Defenseman, SA Rampage – AHL)

Mironov has played well enough to earn himself a call-up after the Tyson Barrie injury. Look for him to be in the lineup for the Avs. I really like the way he’s adjusting to the North American style of play. I’m still not sure what kind of future he has in the NHL, but he’s a left handed defenseman that plays physical – that’s never a bad thing to have in your organization.

Spencer Martin (19 GP – 2.73 GAA, .903 sv%) – 2013 Round 3, Pick 63 (Goaltender, SA Rampage – AHL)

Ville Husso got both starts this week. Enough said.

Injured Reserve

Colorado has two prospects that are out indefinitely with injuries. Kamenev is now skating and handling pucks in San Antonio. It sounds like he’s still a few weeks out from a return, but he’s getting closer.  Boikov has yet to play in any games this year as his injury was sustained in training camp.