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Colorado Avalanche's top 3 prospects to watch out for in 2024/25 season
The Colorado Avalanche have built a perennial contender through savvy trades and clever signings. The Avs have also been adept at drafting and developing great players over the years. As such, the Avalanche have created a successful prospect pipeline in spite of investing in top-tier talent.
With that in mind, let’s discuss the next wave of prospects that could make the Colorado Avalanche a contending club for years to come.
Colorado Avalanche's top 3 prospects to watch out for in 2024/25
#3. Jean-Luc Foudy
Foudy was the Colorado Avalanche’s third-round pick in 2020. The speedy center makes up for his lack of size with skill, playmaking ability and puck handling. Being on the smaller end allows him to take advantage of less space on the ice, giving him an edge over bigger opponents.
Foudy has spent the last three seasons with the Colorado Eagles of the AHL. Last season, he registered four goals and 14 points in 26 games. The year before, he notched 11 goals and 36 points in 46 games. Foudy got a brief four-game audition with the Avs last season.
While Foudy should start the year in the AHL, don’t be surprised to see him with the big club sooner rather than later.
#2. Nikolai Kovalenko
The Russian-American forward was a sixth-round pick in the 2018 NHL draft. But he has yet to make an impact in North America, as he’s spent the last few seasons playing in the KHL. Last season, he put up 35 points in 42 games with the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.
Kovalenko played in four games with the Colorado Eagles, registering three points. While not a bad debut, the Avs will be anxious to see what Kovalenko can do in a full season in North America.
At 24, Kovalenko is practically NHL-ready. He’s got enough professional experience to make the transition to the NHL. The only thing standing in his way is proving he has the talent to be a regular NHLer.
Kovalenko projects as a middle-six winger with speed and scoring skills. He should get an invite to training, though he’s likely to start the season in the AHL.
#1. Justus Annunen
Colorado Avalanche fans should expect to see Justus Annunen at some point this season. The 6-foot-4 Finnish netminder was drafted in the third round of 2018. The Avs should give Annunen an opportunity to make the team this season, given his performance last year.
In 14 games last season, Annunen posted a 2.25 GAA and a .928 SV%. If he can keep those numbers up, Annunen could easily become the backup to Alexandar Georgiev, potentially competing for the starting job as soon as this season.
While there may be an outside chance Annunen gets sent down, he projects as the Avalanche’s goaltender of the future. With Georgiev entering the final year of his current contract, Colorado may be inclined to hand the reins to Annunen as early as this season.
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