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Byram among 'best player' scenarios in 1st round

June 13, 2019, 6:00 PM ET [6 Comments]
Rick Sadowski
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • RSSArchiveCONTACT
While most folks assume the Avalanche will select a center with their first-round pick (No. 4) in the NHL draft, high-scoring defenseman Bowen Byram is definitely on their radar.

Alan Hepple, Colorado’s director of amateur scouting, said during a conference call on Thursday that they’ll continue the philosophy of tabbing the players they consider the best available on both first-round picks, the second being No. 16.

The first round is June 21 at Rogers Centre in Vancouver. The Avalanche, who have five picks in the first three rounds, have two third-rounders and one pick each in the second, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds on June 22.

“We need forwards right now, but by the time some of these kids are ready to play we might need defensemen again,” Hepple said. “So it’ll be the best player, no matter whether at 4 or 16.”

Byram certainly would be an interesting choice considering the Avalanche appear to be in very good shape at the position, especially with young talents Samuel Girard, 21, and Cale Makar, 20. But Tyson Barrie, who turns 28 next month, is entering the final year of his contract.

Hepple raved about the 6-foot, 193-pound Byram, who had 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) in 67 games with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League last season.

“He’s the new-age defenseman here in the National Hockey League,” he said. “He skates, he moves the puck, his puck management is unbelievable. His sense for the game — he’s got that little bite in his game, that grit, that I think is important. He’s not going to be stopped. This kid is really good.”

The New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers have the first two picks. Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko will be the first players selected, though it isn’t known in what order.

The Chicago Blackhawks pick third.

“The first two (picks) are set in stone, it seems like,” Hepple said. “We’ve got a few guys targeted. I have an idea who Chicago is going to take just by talking to people, but it’s never set in stone until they make that call. It’s real unpredictable.

“Every day I’m trying to get a handle on it. You talk to agents, talk to people around the league and it’s been tough trying to pinpoint it down.”

If the Avalanche decide on a center, it likely will be Kirby Dach (Saskatoon, WHL), Dylan Cozens (Lethbridge, WHL) or Alex Turcotte (U.S. National Team Development Program), depending on who is available.

Regardless of who they pick, Hepple said it will take time before he is ready to play in the NHL.

“There’s going to be a development curve, there are things they’re going to have to improve here and there to play at the National Hockey League level, but we like them all,” Hepple said, referring to the centers.

Here’s Hepple’s take on the centers:

* Cozens (6-3, 180), who had 84 points (34 goals, 50 assists) in 68 games for Lethbridge: “Big centerman, skates well, has some skill, a guy that sees the ice very well.”

* Dach (6-4, 197), who had 73 points (25 goals, 48 assists) in 62 games for Saskatoon: “A little bit bigger, a guy that controls the puck, plays power play, controls the puck along the wall. He’s got hockey sense, sees it very well.”

* Turcotte (5-11, 185), who had 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) in 16 games with the U.S. Under-18 Team: “Very tenacious, has great hockey sense, great skill.”

“The one thing that we’ve kind of changed in the last little while, we’re trying to find skill, we’re trying to find hockey sense,” Hepple said, downplaying the size factor. “All these three kids have it, they all have the compete, they all have that upward speed.”

U.S. goalie Spencer Knight could be considered at No. 16. Knight (6-3, 197) had a 15-1-0 record with a 2.21 goals-against average and .903 save percentage for the Under-18 Team.

“I think he’s on the top of everybody’s (goalie) list,” Hepple said. “We’ll have to see what’s available at 16. We do our goalie list separate, (will) see if he’s going to be the guy who’s better than the forward or the defenseman we have at 16. That’ll be a decision we make at the table.”

*****

The Avalanche released a six-game preseason schedule that includes three home games. They’ll open Tuesday, Sept. 7, against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Pepsi Center.

The schedule (all times MT)

Tue, Sept. 17 – VEGAS, 7 p.m.
Thur, Sept. 19 – DALLAS, 7 p.m.
Sat, Sept. 21 -- at Minnesota, 4 p.m.
Sun, Sept. 22 – MINNESOTA, 5 p.m.
Wed, Sept. 25 -- at Vegas, 8 p.m.
Sat, Sept. 28 -- at Dallas, 4 p.m.



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