We are less than two weeks away from the 2024 NHL Draft, and since pretty much everyone knows where they’ll be selecting, the mock drafts are rolling in. The NHL scouting combine just took place, and I’m sure the Colorado Avalanche, like most teams, are putting the final touches on their draft lists as we speak, if they haven’t already.
There’s always the chance the Avalanche trade the pick. They’re currently scheduled to select 24th overall, and could use more talent in their pipeline, but they’re also a team looking to win right now. If a deal is on the table that could help them in the immediate, it has to be considered. Mock drafts don’t really take those into account, though.
I’m currently finalizing my completely meaningless list of players I’d take at 24 if I was in charge of the Avalanche. As well all know, I’m definitely not in charge of any of their choices, but it’s a fun experiment nonetheless. Some of those players just so happen to show up in these mock drafts. Here’s a roundup of some mock drafts you can find online and who they have the Avalanche selecting at 24.
The Athletic – C/W Egor Surin
This would be a swing for the fences, and I’d love it. Surin is an extremely talented center playing over in Russia that has great hands, competes, and has decent size. He also happens to be one of the youngest players in the draft, as he doesn’t turn 18 until August of this year. Surin hasn’t played in the KHL yet, but that might happen this year on a stacked Lokomotiv team. This one would be playing the long game, but the talent is there.
Corey Pronman explained the selection: Surin’s stock is on the rise after a great postseason in Russia, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he went higher than this. He has tremendous compete and good natural talent as well. He’s an easy player to like and Colorado has shown they’re not afraid to take shots on talented Russians.
Here’s some of his highlights from over in Russia (#70).
NHL.com – W Igor Chernyshov or C/W Trevor Connelly
The NHL site has two different people giving their opinions, which is how you get two picks. Chernyshov dropping to 24 isn’t impossible, but it would be a pretty big surprise. He’s a big winger who seems like a relatively safe bet to play a middle six role in the NHL.
Connelly is one of the more controversial players available in this draft. There are no questions about his talent, as he’s probably one of the most gifted players available for any team to select. A lot of the questions about his game are off the ice, which you can read about here. From what I’ve been told, there are several teams that have taken him off their draft boards because of his off-ice issues. Not every team has done that, though.
Sportsnet – W Ryder Ritchie
I’ve watched Ritchie and didn’t come away terribly impressed, but a strong U18’s always boost someone’s prospects heading into the draft. From Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino…
A resurgence in the playoffs and especially at the U18’s helped eradicate a 21-game regular-season injury absence. Ritchie is a playmaker with creativity and vision.
The Score – W Terik Parascak
If you read my CHN+ piece on players that Jerome Berube of Hockey Prospect would “pound the table” for, you’d know about Parascak. A talented winger who put up a ton of points in the WHL, but his skating is sub-par, to say the least. The Avalanche could use a talented winger in their system, but would he be able to keep up in the NHL?
The Score’s Analysis: No team is getting a premade NHLer this deep into the first round. Colorado takes a chance on Parascak, whose skating is a concern. What’s not a concern: Parascak’s mind for the game and handles with the puck. The Alberta native tore up the WHL as a rookie with 105 points in 68 games.
