Avalanche release Rookie Camp and Showcase roster, times

The Colorado Avalanche have finally released the official Rookie Camp and Showcase roster and dates, just two days before the players are set to report. The beginning of Rookie Camp is officially Friday, at 9:15 a.m. at the team’s practice facility at the Family Sports Center. The full schedule of events is below:

Friday, Sept. 16            Start Time              Location
Rookie Camp                9:15 a.m. (on ice)    Family Sports Center

Saturday, Sept. 17
Avalanche vs. Sharks   2:00 p.m.                 Westminster Promenade

Sunday, Sept. 18
Avalanche vs. Ducks    1:00 p.m.                 Westminster Promenade

Monday, Sept. 19
Rookie Camp                9:45 a.m. (on ice)   Family Sports Center
Ducks vs. Sharks          2:00 p.m.                Westminster Promenade

The roster, below, was also released along with the schedule.

2 Mason Geertsen D
3 Chris Bigras D
11 Troy Bourke LW
16 Nikita Zadorov D
30 Spencer Martin G
37 J.T. Compher LW
39 Julien Nantel C
41 Cody Corbett D
42 Samuel Henley C
45 Sergei Boikov D
46 A.J. Greer LW
47 *Jackson Houck RW
54 Anton Lindholm D
56 ^Cole Sanford RW
59 Nicolas Meloche D
63 J.C. Beaudin C
67 *Brogan O’Brien LW
68 *Jeffrey Truchon-Viel LW
70 ^Shawn St-Amant LW
71 Gustav Olhaver C
73 Travis Barron LW
74 *Filip Karlsson C
75 *Chase Marchand G
76 Josh Anderson D
96 Mikko Rantanen RW
* – Amateur Tryout (ATO) ^ – AHL contract

For the most part, it’s a group with few surprises but a couple of things do stand out here. All of the players from this past July’s development camp will be present either on an ATO or an AHL contract. Speaking of which, the Cole Sanford AHL contract had been previously unannounced up until now.

Sanford is a 21-year old forward who has gone undrafted multiple times but has been a point-per-game player in the WHL for three consecutive years. His peak season was 2014-15 when he potted 50 goals and 45 assists for a 95-point season in just 72 games for the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. His size, 5’8″, 163 pounds, appears to be his largest limiting factor but he will get a look with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL) or Colorado Eagles (ECHL) this season.

Other names of note to be playing are Mikko Rantanen, Chris Bigras, and Nikita Zadorov. All three are expected to push for full-time NHL duty this year so it’s a mild surprise to see them participating in this experience but any ice time is good ice time in the preseason.

The final roster note that stuck out was the omission of goaltender Adam Werner, Colorado’s 5th round selection in this past draft. His omission means just two of the club’s six draft picks, third round selection Josh Anderson and seventh round selection Travis Barron, will be in town for this year’s camp. Beyond Werner, who plays in Sweden, the other three missing are all players with NCAA commitments that prevent them from participating in these events.