Avalanche Prospect Report: Cale Makar stars

Nick Leivermann (43GP – 10G, 27A/2 GP – 0G, 4A) – 2017 Round 7, Pick 187 (Defenseman, Penticton Vees – BCHL)

It’s playoff time for the BCHL and the Penticton Vees have jumped out to a two games to none lead thanks in large part to Nick Leivermann. Leivermann assisted on both goals in his team’s 2-1 win in game one, and had another multi-point performance in the game two blowout.

Feb. 25: vs Salmon Arm Silverbacks

L (OT) 5-4 – 1G, 0A

Mar. 2: vs Coquitlam Express

W 2-1 – 0G, 2A

Mar. 3: vs Coquitlam Express 

W 9-2 – 0G, 2A

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

As Adrian Dater mentioned on a recent BSN Avalanche Podcast, Conor Timmins remains out of the line up for the Soo Greyhounds. He maybe had the best week of any Avs prospect this week, however. The WJC standout finally signed his entry level contract with the Avalanche, get excited Avs fans.

Travis Barron (61 GP – 17G, 33A) – 2016 Round 7, Pick 191 (Left Wing, Ottawa 67’s – OHL)

The 67’s are in! Ottawa’s major junior team punched their ticket to the playoffs, and you have to give Barron a lot of credit. He got off to a slow start and the team really struggled at times, but he really put them on his back in the latter part of the year and carried them to a post season birth. I’d expect Barron to get a contract offer very soon.

Feb. 25: @ Kitchener Rangers

W 5-2 – 0G, 0A

Mar. 1: @ North Bay Battalion

W 4-2 – 1G, 1A

Mar. 2: @ Hamilton Bulldogs

L 3-1 – 1G, 0A

Ty Lewis (63 GP – 39G, 50A) – Undrafted (Left Wing, Brandon Wheat Kings – WHL)

He’s on a another level right now. Ty Lewis is basically taking the puck and scoring whenever he wants to. One goal shy of 40, and one point shy of 90 with seven games left on the regular season schedule. Brandon is still fighting for a wild card spot in their conference, but I’ve got a feeling that Lewis can get them there even if he has to play 1-on-5.

Feb. 25: @ Calgary Hitmen

W 6-3 – 2G, 0A

Feb. 27: @ Prince Albert Raiders

L 6-2 – 2G, 0A

Mar. 2: vs Moose Jaw Warriors

W 4-2 – 3G, 0A

Mar. 3: @ Swift Current Broncos

L 3-1 – 0G, 0A

Nick Henry (43 GP – 11G, 14A) – 2017 Round 4, Pick 94 (Right Wing, Regina Pats – WHL)

Just one game for the Regina Pats this week, an OT loss. This is another team that is fighting for playoff position and is going to need every win they can get. This wasn’t the year we wanted from Nick Henry, but expect him to bounce back after he has a full offseason to train while healthy.

Mar. 3: @ Calgary Hitmen

L (OT) 3-2 – 0G, 0A

Josh Anderson (48 GP – 3G, 11A) – 2016 Round 3, Pick 71 (Defenseman, Swift Current Broncos – WHL)

Swift Current has a playoff spot locked up, and Anderson has been really good. It would seem as though that the Chris Bigras trade may open up an opportunity on the left side for Anderson within the organization.

Feb. 25: @ Edmonton Oil Kings

W 8-0 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 27: @ Calgary Hitmen

W 6-4 – 0G, 0A

Mar. 2: vs Moose Jaw Warriors

L (SO) 5-4 – 0G, 0A

Mar. 3: vs Brandon Wheat Kings

W 3-1 – 0G, 0A

Nate Clurman (44 GP – 1G, 9) – 2016 Round 6, Pick 161 (Defenseman, Des Moines Buccaneers – USHL)

Nate Clurman was traded for the second time this season, this time from the Des Moines Buccaneers to the Sioux City Musketeers. And apparently this is how you get the most out of him. He seems to get better every time he moves teams, having now recorded four points in his last six games. It’s odd given that this is a guy I was ready to give up on earlier this year.

Feb. 27: @ Waterloo Black Hawks

L 2-1 – 0G, 0A

Mar. 2: vs Waterloo Black Hawks

L 4-3 – 0G, 0A

Mar. 3: vs Tri City Storm

W (SO) 3-2 – 0G, 1A

Gustav Olhaver (47 GP – 6G, 7A) – 2015 Round 7, Pick 191 (Center, IK Oskarshamn – Allsvenskan)

Perhaps I should give Gustav Olhaver the same treatment I gave Clurman earlier this year. It seemed to work for him.

Feb. 27: @ Västerviks IK

W 4-3 – 0G, 0A

Mar. 3: vs BIK Karlskoga

L 4-1 – 0G, 0A

Adam Werner (46 GP – 2.35 GAA, .914 sv%) – 2016 Round 5, Pick 131 (Goaltender, IF Björklöven – Allsvenskan)

Standing on his head, or subpar play. Doesn’t really seem to be much in between for Adam Werner. He stole a game for his team this week, making 44 saves in a game where IF Björklöven was doubled up in shots on goal. The potential is there, just need to get the consistency part down.

Feb. 27: vs Tingsryds AIF

W 5-2 – 4GA, .891 Save Percentage

Mar. 2: @ AIK

W 4-2 – 2GA, .956 Save Percentage

Petr Kvaca (32 GP – 1.75 GAA, .923 sv%) – 2017 Round 4, Pick 114 (Goaltender, ČEZ Motor České Budějovice – Czech 2)

I can’t figure out Kvaca’s usage. He’ll go long stretches only playing 1 out of 4 games, then suddenly it’s his net for a week. Either way, a relatively good week for the former fourth round pick, picking up two out fo a possible three wins.

Feb. 14: vs Karlovy Vary

W 4-2 – 2GA, .929 Save Percentage

Feb. 14: vs Karlovy Vary

W 4-1 – 1GA, .967 Save Percentage

Feb. 14: vs Karlovy Vary

L 3-1 – 4GA, .885 Save Percentage

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

He got in a 4-0 game for more than 5:00 minutes in the first game back from the Olympic break, but then didn’t record a single shift in the next two games. What a waste this season has been for him. You have to hope their is some interest in coming to North America next season.

Feb. 27: vs Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk

W 4-0 – 0G, 0A

Cam Morrison (34 GP 7G, 13A)- 2016 Round 2, Pick 40 (Left Wing, Notre Dame – NCAA)

Cale Makar and Denis Smirnov were Colorado’s only NCAA prospects to play this week. Big time games are on the horizon for the other two though.

Denis Smirnov (28 GP – 15G, 12A) – 2017 Round 6, Pick 156 (Winger, Penn State – NCAA)

Smirnov’s Penn State ran Minnesota out of the building in their best of three series. The Nittany Lions scored 11 goals in two games, sweeping Minnesota. Smirnov picked up a pair of points in game one, but was held off the score sheet on the second night.

Mar. 2: vs Minnesota

W 5-2 – 1G, 1A

Mar. 3: vs Minnesota

W 6-5 – 0G, 0A

Shane Bowers (34 GP – 16G, 11A) – 2017 Round 1, Pick 28 (Center, Boston University – NCAA)

The Terriers did not play this week so Bowers enjoyed some time off. They return to action next week.

Cale Makar (32 GP – 5G, 15A)— 2017 Round 1, Pick 4 (UMass Amherst – NCAA)

Well Cale Makar just about broke hockey Twitter this week with a pretty ridiculous coast to coast goal to tie the game for his team en route to a comeback OT win. UMass is exceeding expectations and Makar is continuing to impress.

Mar. 1: vs Vermont

W (OT) 3-2 – 1G, 1A

Mar. 2: vs Vermont

L (OT) 4-3 – 0G, 0A

Mar. 4: vs Vermont

W 5-2 – 0G, 0A

Mason Geertsen (55 Gp – 2G, 2A) – 2013 Round 4, Pick 93 (Defenseman, SA Rampage – AHL)

My goodness, an ugly ugly week for the Rampage. Shut out twice, and three losses in total. Colorado is desperate to get their own development team back. St. Louis’ prospects are dominating the lineup right now.

Feb. 27: @ San Diego Gulls

L 3-0 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 28: @ Ontario Reign

L (OT) 3-2 – 0G, 0A

Mar. 2: vs Chicago Wolves

L 3-0 – 0G, 0A

Julien Nantel (45 GP – 6G, 1A) – 2014 Round 7, Pick 204 (Left Wing, SA Rampage – AHL)

After such a promising start, this season just has not gone how we had hoped for Nantel.

Feb. 27: @ San Diego Gulls

L 3-0 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 28: @ Ontario Reign

L (OT) 3-2 – 0G, 0A

Mar. 2: vs Chicago Wolves

L 3-0 – 0G, 0A

AJ Greer (24 GP – 6G, 5A) – 2015 Round 2, Pick 39 (Left Wing, SA Rampage – AHL)

AJ Greer will spend the remainder of the season with the Rampage. I thought it was an interesting decision seeing as he was showing real signs of progression in his most recent call up. However, the Avs are getting healthy, and it’s better for him to be playing every night.

Feb. 27: @ San Diego Gulls

L 3-0 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 28: @ Ontario Reign

L (OT) 3-2 – 0G, 0A

Mar. 2: vs Chicago Wolves

L 3-0 – 0G, 0A

Nicolas Meloche (44 GP – 4G, 6A)-  2015 Round 2, Pick 40 (Defenseman, San Antonio Rampage – AHL)

No points this week, but is still playing in a much more regular role for the Rampage. This has got to be one of the organizations most improved players of the year.

Feb. 27: @ San Diego Gulls

L 3-0 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 28: @ Ontario Reign

L (OT) 3-2 – 0G, 0A

Mar. 2: vs Chicago Wolves

L 3-0 – 0G, 0A

Rocco Grimaldi (42 GP – 14G, 11A) – 2011 Round 2, Pick 33 (Right Wing, SA Rampage – AHL)

Despite being named an AHL all star for a second straight year, Grimaldi is having a really down year. He’s just not contributing in the way we’ve gotten used to. RFA this summer, going to be interesting to see how the Avs handle him.

Feb. 27: @ San Diego Gulls

L 3-0 – 0G, 0A

Feb. 28: @ Ontario Reign

L (OT) 3-2 – 0G, 0A

Mar. 2: vs Chicago Wolves

L 3-0 – 0G, 0A

Chris Bigras (18 GP – 1G, 4A) – 2013 Round 2, Pick 32 (Defenseman, Hartford Wolfpack – AHL)

I wouldn’t feel right just dropping Bigras off of the prospect report without saying that he was a great guy and one who I had penciled in as a staple on the left side of Colorado’s defense for a long time. Unfortunately he just never found that next gear in this organization, and will get a fresh start in the east. Wish nothing but the best for Chris Bigras. Look for Ryan Graves in this spot next week, we’ll give you a little introduction to him.

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

Well…uh… I guess that happened. Andrei Mironov is heading back to Russia. Mironov had some not great things to say about the Avalanche organization, including criticizing their masseuse. He said that he had been patient enough, and was done waiting for his chance. To each their own. 

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

Martin spent this last week with the Avalanche thanks to injuries to both Jonathan Bernier and Andrew Hammond. He didn’t get in any game action and has been reassigned. Side note: his pads are awesome.

Injured Reserve

Boikov has yet to play in any games this year as his injury was sustained in training camp.