With the 40th overall pick, the Colorado Avalanche have selected Nicolas Meloche of Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL.

Nicolas Meloche is a big-bodied defenseman with a penchant for scoring. He was selected in the first round (15th overall) by Drakkar in the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft and immediately made an impact on his team. In 54 games, he potted 6 goals and 25 points and contributed to a solid playoff performance for Drakkar with 8 assists.

This past season saw an even more impressive offensive output with 34 points (10g, 24a) in 44 regular season games and 10 points (4g, 6a) in 12 playoff games, a performance that landed him a spot on the CHL Top Prospects team. He also represented Canada in their gold-winning campaign in the U18 Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Meloche isn’t your typical offensive defenseman, though. He is a physical player who uses his strength intelligently. Despite his ability to push opponents off the puck and punish them with hits, he rarely takes penalties. He has good mobility for a guy his size and sees the ice exceptionally. His biggest weapon, however, is a hard, powerful shot from the point.

This is a player who fits right into the picture Patrick Roy is painting for the current Avalanche. He has size, intelligence and a well-rounded game that can be used in any situation. It’s a solid pick by Colorado as Meloche will be an exceptional bottom-pairing defenseman who has the potential to move up to the 3-4 spot on the blueline.

Expect to see Nicolas Meloche have an impressive training camp but then return to the QMJHL for more development.