Colorado Avalanche: Top 8 prospects worth getting excited about

4. Conor Timmins

Colorado’s second-round pick (No. 32 overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft remains one of their top prospects. The 22-year-old played in his first professional season after missing the entire 2018-19 season with ongoing concussion issues. Despite missing an entire year, he proved this past season that he still has the potential to be a great player. He actually made the Avalanche roster to start the 2019-20 season, but appeared in just two games before being sent to the AHL. He played a total of 40 games and managed to put up 27 points.

Putting up offensive numbers is nothing new for Timmins, who had just come off of a 61-point season with the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL at the time the Avalanche drafted him. He followed that season up with 41 points in 38 games for the Greyhounds, as well as posting a goal and four assists in seven games for Team Canada at the 2018 World Juniors. While missing an entire year certainly wasn’t ideal, he still remains a top-end prospect for Colorado.

3. Justin Barron

Justin Barron is the youngest player on this list, having just been selected in the first-round (No. 25 overall) at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old defenseman had a solid 2019-20 season despite playing for a bad Halifax Moosehead team, with 19 points in 34 games. His season prior was equally impressive with 41 points in 68 games, as well as 13 points in 23 postseason contests.

On top of being a fantastic player, the Halifax, Nova Scotia native is also very mature for his age and is a tremendous leader, proven by being named the Mooseheads captain prior to the start of the 2020-21 season. The season is already underway for Barron and his teammates, and he is off to a terrific start with five assists in six games. He has a great chance to represent Team Canada at the upcoming 2021 World Juniors.