DENVER, Co – With the Colorado Avalanche’s first round pick gone at the NHL trade deadline in the Adam Foote trade, the Avalanche made the most of their remaining draft picks. Here is a look at who the Avs drafted in this past June’s NHL Entry Draft.
In the second round of this year’s NHL draft the Avalanche took at #50 overall, Cameron Gaunce, a 6′ 1″ 203 lb. left shooting defenseman out of Mississauga St. Michaels in the OHL.
Gaunce scored 40 points to lead all defensemen on his team and was named to the OHL all rookie team for the 2007-08 season.
Like every other team in the league, the Avalanche place a high value on a defenseman who can score big goals. Gaunce has the size and puck skills to make a contribution from the blueline.
After some continued seasoning in the OHL look for Gaunce to begin learning the Colorado system in Lake Erie within the next couple years.
Read more on Cameron Gaunce go to the following link: http://www.nhlentrydraft2008.com/featuredPlayersDetails.aspx?type=sel&playerID=1091
The Colorado Avalanche traded up to get a second pick in round 2 to snatch promising 6′ 2″ 168 lb. left catching Goalie, Peter Delmas, out of the QMJHL.
Delmas had a 17-13-4 record and a .903 save percentage with the Lewiston MAINEiacs in 2007-2008. Big rangy goalies seem to be a precious commodity in the NHL and Delmas has the size and reach to be a good one but he does need to fill out some before he makes an NHL team.
Photo by Terry Sanford
Jose Theodore has opted for free agency and the Avalanche may have to push the development of Delmas. He appears to be the best young goalie prospect in the system. For more on Delmas go to the following link:
http://www.nhlentrydraft2008.com/featuredPlayersDetails.aspx?type=sel&playerID=3003
Center Kelsey Tessier, a 5′ 9″ 168 lb. righty from the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL was the Avalanche’s 3rd pick of the draft at 110th overall.
Tessier is a goal scorer, although small in stature he plays a big game, racking up 81 points for the Remparts last season.
A smart pick by the Avalanche, Tessier considers the
Colorado franchise his favorite team. Not surprising as he played for the Colorado Outlaws, a Midget AAA team that competed in the
U.S. prep school ranks, in 2005-06.
His skating ability and sniper skills are attributes that will translate well on any NHL team but particularly on a high flying team like the Avs. Tessier’s shoot out moves will also make him a fan favorite.
More on Tessier go to the following link:
http://www.nhlentrydraft2008.com/featuredPlayersDetails.aspx?type=sel&playerID=1046
At #140 overall another Center, Mark Olver, joined the ranks of the Colorado Avalanche prospects. Another smaller player at 5′ 10″ and 155 pounds, Olver shoots left.
In 2007 – 2008, his freshman year at
Northern Michigan University, Olver scored 38 points in 39 games played. His draft ranking was #207 but the Avalanche scouts must have seen something special in the diminutive Olver whose father was an assistant coach a NMU from 2005 to 2007. Lefty Joel Chouinard is a 6’1″ 186 pounds. defenseman. He is the third QMJHL draft pick this year by the decidedly francophone Avalanche staff. A puck moving defenseman with good size as is Chouinard is worth gambling on. This has the earmarks of another late round gem. Francois Giguere has chosen this Victoriaville Tiger defenseman with excellent passing skills to bolster the Avalanche defensive prospects. Chouinard accrued 35 points in 2007-2008 with 28 of those points coming as assists. For more on Joel Chouinard go to the following link: http://www.nhlentrydraft2008.com/featuredPlayersDetails.aspx?type=sel&page=profile&playerID=1099 Jonas Holos taken is the first ever Norwegian draft pick in Avalanche history. He is a defense man who shoots right and is 5’11” and 196 pounds. The Colorado team have not historical drafted a lot of European players and the uncertainty surrounding the European transfer agreements make it even more of a crap shoot this year. It is good to see the Avalanche taking a shot at a dark horse like Holos in the draft.
Photo by Terry Sanford
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