It's official. The Avalanche on Thursday announced they have signed former Harvard star
Alex Kerfoot to a two-year, entry-level contract.
“We are thrilled that Alexander decided to sign with the Avalanche,” general manager
Joe Sakic said in a release. "He’s a highly-skilled, playmaking center who is responsible at both ends of the ice. We look forward to seeing him take the next step of his hockey career with our organization.”
Kerfoot, 23, spent four seasons at Harvard, where he served as a co-captain as a senior in 2016-17. He had 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) in 36 games last season and helped the Crimson win Ivy League and ECAC championships, along with a berth in the Frozen Four.
The 5-feet-10, 175-pound Kerfoot, who was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, had 123 points (36 goals, 87 assists) in 121 college contests.
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Kerfoot became an unrestricted free agent Aug. 16. The New Jersey Devils made him their fifth-round pick (No. 150) in the 2012 NHL draft.
Kerfoot, who is from West Vancouver, B.C., said in an interview with Vancouver's
TSN 1040 that he'll head to Avalanche camp expecting to make the opening-night roster.
"I’m prepared for whatever,” he said. “I mean, if I don’t make the team then it’s not like I’m just going to give up on my career. But at the same time I’m going in to Colorado expecting to make the team. I think that I’m confident in my abilities and I think that I have a good shot to make their roster. I’m excited to go in and be a part of their group.
“I know that I still have a lot to work on and a lot to learn when it comes to developing as a hockey player, but I think I have a good chance to make the team this year.”
Why the Avalanche, who are coming off a miserable 48-point season?
"The first thing I was looking at was opportunity," he said. "I’m a 23-year-old guy now coming out of four years in college. I know I have a lot of work to do as a player, but I want to go somewhere where I think that I have an opportunity to play. That kind of narrowed my list down from the start.
“I just felt really comfortable with the Avalanche organization in general and with Sakic and (coach
Jared) Bednar. I’m excited about joining their young group of guys and going into camp this year and competing for a spot.
“I definitely don’t think it’s any secret that they didn’t have the best year last year. But to be honest, if you look at their roster, you look at the guys they’ve got on their team, they have a lot of highly-skilled players and a lot of room to grow and a lot of upside there in Colorado.
“But even more so than that, I’m coming in as a young guy. I know that I’m not turning the franchise around anytime this year. I’m looking for an opportunity to play, and somewhere where I think there’s good people to work with and good people to be around. I felt like I had that in Colorado.
“It was a difficult process, but ultimately I’m happy with Colorado.”
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