Feature Stories: Predicting Colorado Avalanche NHL Debuts in 2024-25

A fun tradition in anticipation of the coming season is to look at who might make their NHL debut for the Colorado Avalanche. It is always a special moment to see a player, either a young prospect, free agent from Europe or journeyman minor leaguer, achieve their dreams and play in their first game in the NHL. It’s now time to identify who is debut eligible and make our predictions.

Tallying the 2023-24 Season

First, the results from last season. We saw a total of four which is pretty standard for the organization over the last several years. The voters got it right with four just edging out three by one vote. Here was my explanation of my vote for four, which did come exactly to fruition, though no sneaky surprises happened.

My answer was 4 which is probably conservative, I think it could be 5 or 6. Kovy plus Malinski, Pavel and Polin seems inevitable plus one or two more randoms. But I’ll go with 4 officially.

So, yes it was Nikolai Kovalenko for two games in the playoffs plus the trio of college free agents. Defenseman Sam Malinski lead the group with 23 NHL games played followed by forwards Jason Polin at seven and Ondrej Pavel with two games.

Candidates for the 2024-25 Season

Prospects are always the first guess to don the burgundy and blue for the first time and there is no greater spotlight than on top prospect Calum Ritchie whose debut will be a special occasion for the Avalanche organization and fanbase whenever it does happen, if not this season. Beyond him, there are still a few other signed prospects who might earn a call up from the Colorado Eagles and look in the NHL including defenseman Sean Behrens and newly signed forwards Ivan Ivan and new college free agent signed Chase Bradley. Matt Stienburg is another option at forward who is on the last year of his Entry Level Contract.

We can’t forget European free agents and if Finnish forward Jere Innala gets in a game it will count as his debut just the same despite being 26-years old. A couple minor leaguers still qualify as well including defenseman Wyatt Aamodt who is back with the organization for one more year. Goaltender Trent Miner is the other candidate serving as depth in goal and could get thrust into action if all hell breaks loose in net.

As always, any in-season trade or spring NCAA free agent signing could find their way to an unexpected NHL debut as a player not even part of the Avalanche organization at this time.

Will the number of Avalanche NHL debuts hit four again in the upcoming season? Who are you looking forward to? Leave your prediction in the comments.