The Colorado Avalanche are still very much in Stanley Cup or bust mode as a franchise, but the start of the 2024-25 campaign is going to feature a youth movement.
Colorado Avalanche center Calum Ritchie in the third period of an NHL preseason hockey game Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Denver.
It’s a stark departure from recent years, when a veteran-heavy group began the season with its sights clearly set on a championship. The expectations have not changed, but the early-season roster makeup has, in part because of some key absences.“I like the fact that we’ve infused some new blood into the lineup, both young developed guys or guys that were continuing to develop and like, say,, Ivan, Kovalenko, and then some new guys coming in that were pretty good in their roles on other teams.
Kovalenko, who turns 25 later this month, was a sixth-round pick in 2018 before making his NHL debut with two games during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He’s had a strong camp, clearly leading the competition for one of the two second-line spots early and never relenting. Ivan, 22, was probably the biggest surprise. He joined the organization before last season as an undrafted free agent on an AHL contract but he had a nice camp and eventually earned an NHL deal after more strong work with the Colorado Eagles.
Sam Malinski, also an undrafted free agent, played 23 games for the Avs last year. He was among the club’s top-six defensemen before the offseason began, in part because Sean Walker, Jack Johnson and Caleb Jones were free agents. Backup goaltender Justus Annunen, 24, is the fifth guy in this group. A third-round pick in 2018, he is still a rookie after playing 14 games for Colorado a year ago and 18 in his career to date.
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