"This is the best I've seen him look": Shane Bowers is ready to push the rock back up the hill

His ties to Colorado began at a distance during a time of disarray. Jared Bednar’s first season behind the bench was marred by a 48-point season. That summer, the Ottawa Senators claimed Shane Bowers as their 28th pick in the first round. The scouting reports touted his high-end skating ability and speed. He arrived on the doorsteps of Boston University after two strong seasons in the USHL with the Waterloo Blackhawks (GP: 116, G:37, A:47).  

On November 5th, 2017, Matt Duchene was memorably pulled mid-game in what would become a three-way trade wherein the Avalanche acquired Shane Bowers’ rights. He was just a freshman at BU, but his trajectory was considerably altered. With the benefit of hindsight, this trade marked a pivotal turning point in the reconstruction of the Colorado Avalanche.

During his first year of college, he played under the leadership of David Quinn and reached the Regional Semifinals but ultimately was bounced 6-3 by Michigan. Quinn’s coaching path routed him through Colorado’s organization prior to BU. He was the head coach of former AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters in 2009-2012 after which he became an assistant coach to the Avs for one season.

In Bowers’ second year of college, Quinn left BU to coach the New York Rangers and Albie O’Connell was brought on to lead the Terriers. The team went 16-18-4 and lost to Northeastern in the Hockey East Tournament 2-1. It was a disappointing way to cap off two individually successful seasons, and a call to the pro’s beckoned him.

He rounded out his short college career as a 10-time Hockey East Top Performer. He was a top-6 center and recorded 53 points in 77 games with several important game-winning and overtime goals to help lift his team in critical moments.

In three AHL seasons with the Colorado Eagles, his once conventional trajectory has deviated. A strong rookie season brought about 27 points through 48 games (G:10, A:17). Bowers primarily retained a top-6 role alternating between center and wing on the 1st and 2nd lines.

It's official, Joly and Greer are back in the lineup tonight!#EaglesCountry pic.twitter.com/vOXvKiMMfZ

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) November 9, 2019

His second season was similar in terms of usage, but the key difference was the arrival of COVID-19. His production dropped in the shortened season, but his stock was still considered high (GP:28, G:7, A:2).

This brings us to his most recent AHL season which was kickstarted in the worst way. He missed opening night after being placed in COVID-19 protocols and was out for the first 4 games. Then he was injured on October 27th during a game against the Bakersfield Condors. He would not return to the lineup until December 15th.

“It was obviously a tough start for me,” Bowers said. “I had COVID and then an injury that kept me out for a couple months.”

He struggled to reclaim a regular role in the top 6 like he once held.  This was made particularly difficult with the career-high performances of players like AHL scoring leaders Dylan Sikura and Kiefer Sherwood. Even newcomer Mikhail Maltsev, a trade acquisition in the Ryan Graves deal, would reserve the top line center role and see 18 NHL games up with the Avs.

Bowers closed out the regular season quietly. Weaving in and out of the bottom 6 as a healthy scratch at points, he became buried in the lineup with little runway. Through 37 games, he posted 6 goals and 3 assists.

“When I was getting back, I was just trying to find my footing,” he explained. “There’s some ups and downs. I finished the season on a high note. I thought I played really well in the playoffs, and I’m just trying to build on that this year, coming into camp and coming into the season.”

In the Calder Cup playoffs, he earned more chances and put up 4 points in 4 games.

“He does everything right,” Eagles coach Greg Cronin said of him. “He practices hard. He’s an unbelievable teammate, [and] does extra work in the weight room.”

The shutout is finally broken with this Shane Bowers goal | it is 1-1 with a little bit remaining in the 1st period. pic.twitter.com/lwB9droHDm

— Meghan Angley (@megangley) May 28, 2022

On August 17th, the Avs re-signed him to a 1-year, 2-way contract for the 2023 season. It comes with little surprise after Colorado extended a qualifying offer in July – but what did raise some eyebrows was the late acceptance and quiet announcement from Colorado after 8 PM on a Wednesday evening.

No longer within the safety of his entry-level contract, he will have to pass through waivers. His contract is projected to be 750K at the NHL level and 100K in the minors. Now Bowers is at the doorstep of another Avalanche training camp at 23 years old. His time is not up, but with 125 AHL games to his name he has not had a crack at an NHL debut and the Colorado Avalanche are not the 48-point-season team they once were.

They’re defending Stanley Cup Champions. These are realities that have made his path to the NHL that much more difficult.

“Whatever it is: if I make the team out of camp – that’s the goal,” he said. “If I don’t, then I’m gonna go [to the AHL] and do everything I can to get back up here. So whether that be if I have to spend time there, if I don’t spend time there. I just want to be in the NHL and that’s the end goal.”

After 3 days of camp, Bowers has practiced with Group 2 – a group notably made up of AHL journeyman types compared to the markedly NHL caliber talents of Group 1 with the likes of Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mikko Rantanen.

There Bowers has been placed back at center alongside Sampo Ranta and Spencer Smallman. Next to the top line of Group 2, this has been one of the most promising lines. Ranta and Bowers have played together before, but Bowers spent much of last season on the wing.

“I’ve played center my whole life before I got to the Eagles. Then I switched over to the wing there for the last couple of seasons. I’m comfortable at both. I think that helps me that I can play both,” Bowers said. “I definitely feel more natural at the center position.”

Jared Bednar recognized the difference too.

“He looks more confident,” Bednar said. “He’s moving real well. We got him in the middle of the ice right now even though he played center and wing last year. He’s going to get a real good shot in exhibition.”

Bowers’ high-end speed has found a compatible match in Ranta’s comparable high speed. Ranta’s grit grants him the edge to stay on top of the puck in the offensive zone, and Bowers’ speed allows him to slip in and out to evade skaters. Together they’re able to keep the puck moving on the cycle, especially with Ranta’s willingness to go to the corners and behind the goal line.

Also incorporating more physicality, an area he’s received feedback on, the 6’2″ 186 lbs., forward has been trying to engage in those battles as well.

“I think the maturity in Shane this year: this is his best camp to date so far,” Bednar started. “I’d like to see him chip in and be able to make plays like he does in the American League at the NHL level. That hasn’t come to fruition through exhibition games in years past, but this is the best I’ve seen him look.”

There’s a mutual agreement on the keys to Bowers’ achieving the next level.

“Consistency and strong defending,” Bednar said.

“For me, that’s the biggest thing: being able to bring in consistent effort and a consistent game every night,” Bowers reiterated.

The realities of his situation have not gone unnoticed, but Bowers is prepared to put his best foot forward, come what may.

The groups will be split for the preseason games with many of the mainstays sitting out giving rise to opportunities for guys like Martin Kaut – who was moved up to Group 1 – and Bowers.