The ping pong balls are in and not much has changed for the Colorado Avalanche. Heading into the night the Colorado Avalanche had an 11.5% chance of jumping into the top three selections, a 64% chance of staying at 10th overall, and a 24.42% chance of falling.  With lottery victories for the Toronto Maple Leafs (1st), the Winnipeg Jets (2nd), and the Columbus Blue Jackets (3rd) the Avalanche hold onto the their original draft position and barring a trade, will select 10th overall in June.

This is the second time in franchise history that the Avalanche have held the 10th overall pick. Last year they used the 10th overall pick to select Finnish winger Mikko Rantanen.

2 months out it’s difficult to predict who the Avalanche might select with the 10th overall pick, as this draft is particularly volatile after the top 6 selections. Some early names to watch for Colorado are center Clayton Keller from the United States development program, Mississauga Steelheads’ center Michael McLeod, Val-d’Or Foreurs winger Julien Gauthier, Benicton center and University of North Dakota commit Tyson Jost, Windsor center Logan Brown, and Calgary defenseman Jake Bean.

• Clayton Keller | Centre | USA NTDP (USHL)
  • 5-10
  • 168 lbs.
  • Jul. 29, 1998
  • GP 23 | G 13 | A 24 | PTS 37
  • Smaller center but with high end creativity and hands. Extremely gifted offensively.
• Michael McLeod | Centre | Mississauga Steelheads (WHL)
  • 6-2
  • 188 lbs.
  • Feb. 3, 1998
  • GP 57 | G 21 | A 40 | PTS 61
  • Hard working two-way center with high end skating and compete level. Some questions about his offensive ceiling.
• Julien Gauthier | Right Wing | Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL)
  •  6-4
  • 225 lbs.
  • Oct. 15, 1997
  • GP 54 | G 41 | A 16 | PTS 57
  • Enormous winger with a deadly shot. Gauthier is not just big, but uses his size and reach well to protect the puck.
• Tyson Jost | Centre | Penticton (BCHL)
  • 5-11
  • 191 lbs.
  • Mar. 17, 1998
  • GP 48 | G 42 | A 62 | PTS 104
  • A very shift forward who gives opponents nightmares with his offensive skills and ability to anticipate the play. Scouts will need to decide how highly they value his skills within the context of the BCHL, a 2nd tier development league with a less quality competition. The dynamic young forward has committed to the NCAA Champion University of North Dakota.
• Logan Brown | Centre | Windsor (OHL)
  • 6-6
  • 222 lbs.
  • Mar. 5, 1998
  • GP 59 | G 21 | A 53 | PTS 74
  • An enormous center who plays well on both ends of the ice. Brown uses his size and heavy shot well and should see the NHL sooner than later, but needs to improve his night-to-night consistency to make the next leap in his development.
• Jake Bean | Defence | Calgary (WHL)
  • 6-1
  • 173 lbs.
  • June 9, 1998
  • GP 68 | G 24 | A 40 | PTS 64
  • An excellent skater and puck carrier, Bean is the type of prototypical offensive defenseman who appears in the middle of the first round every year. That’s not to say that Bean is a one-dimensional player, his defensive game is well developed and according to insider Bob McKenzie, at least one scout considers him the draft’s best all around defenseman.

Stay tuned to BSN Avalanche throughout the summer for our complete coverage of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.