Avalanche Top 10 Specs 2016-17

 

*Players 23 and under, haven't played pro BRHL season*

 

1.       #1 - F Sebastian Aho 19

a.       Tore up every division he played at last year. Liiga? 45 points in 45 games. WJC? 14 points in 7 games. World Championships? 7 points in 10 games. Aho will be playing for Finland at the World Cup, and he will be making his pro debut in Carolina this season. GM Shuck had him ranked as the 9^th best player in the past draft and has been open about the high expectations he has for this player. He is viewed as a franchise cornerstone.

2.       #2 - F Anthony Beauvillier 19

a.       Was given the captaincy in Shawinigan and responded with 40 goals and 39 assists in 47 games. Played for Canada at the WJC and was assigned a checking role, which he did admirably. He’s heading back to junior again this season, barring something unexpected, and will again be a key member of Team Canada. His snipe ability bodes hope that he will be riding shotgun with Tavares sooner, rather than later.

3.       #3 - C Radek Faksa 22

a.       Has rare defensive acumen for a player his age. He plays in all situations, tearing up the AHL last year offensively, and taking big face-offs in the playoffs for Dallas. He has shown offense at every level, and nothing has indicated it won’t come at the NHL level. He will be playing for the Czechs at the upcoming World Cup as well.

4.       #4 - F Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson

a.       Shuck surprised many when he took Karlsson towards the end of the first round, but in the organizations eyes, they picked up a dynamic scoring forward who has shown not only a penchant for dominating against his own age level, but had a stellar freshman season at BU, and is getting the A in his sophomore season. JFK profiles as a playmaking center, who won’t get lost in his own end, and doesn’t shy away from contact.

5.       #5 - D Will Butcher

a.       While admittedly undersized, Butcher makes up for it with elite vision from the backend, and the poise of a player much older. As a 20 year old he was nearly a ppg player in his junior year at DU. He is returning for his senior season this year, and will look to turn pro next offseason. The player he is most compared to is Tyson Barrie, also in the Aves organization, and there’s talk within the organization that when Barrie’s next deal is up, he may be allowed to walk if they think Butcher is ready to take over that role.

6.       #6 - D Markus Nutivaara

a.       22 year old dman coming across the pond after a great season in the Liiga last year. The Jackets have obvious Finn connections, and with his strong play last year, he’s going to have a legit shot to make the team. His progression has been rapid in recent years, and it will be interesting to see if his improvement continues and translates.

7.       #7 - D Trevor Murphy

a.       A great rookie AHL season as a 20 year old, Murphy is another undersized dman in the system, but has elite offense, and is a great skater. Unlike most dmen his size, he doesn’t shy away from the physical part of the game. Murphy is one to watch in Nashville, as he tries to earn a job out of camp.

8.       #8 - F Kalle Kossilla

a.       The French born Finn, capped off a dominant NCAA career at St. Cloud state and performed really well in the AHL at the end of the year. Ready to make his professional mark as a rookie this season, Kossila is a playmaking winger, who will try and make the Ducks out of camp. Another overager, but a guy who has sown his commitment to North America after 4 years of college, Kassila could emerge quickly, as his skating and pick control will carry him.

9.       #9 - G Landon Bow

a.       After a decent career at Swift Current, a trade to Seattle half way through the season last year saw him go crazy, with a .938 save percentage and a 1.76gaa. His save percentage has always been very good in the WHL, and with a team in front of him, he was nearly unbeatable. He’s turning pro with the Stars this season, and with their crease situation in flux, to put it mildly, it’s not out of the picture that Bow could come in and rapidly rise up the depth chart. Massive frame, and great performance are good indicators.

10.   #10 F Trevor Moore

 

a.       A guy who signed late in the offseason with the Leafs, Aves management took him thinking he’d be back at DU this fall. But his pro career is being expedited, and as an elite playmaker, he fits in nicely with the core the Leafs are building. Moore is a great skater, was a ppg player in his college career, but will likely need some seasoning in the AHL before he is truly ready.