Conor Timmins will be part of Avalanche expanded playoff roster

Conor Timmins, the Avalanche’s second-round draft choice from 2017 and considered a top defensive prospect for the future, will be part of the Avalanche’s expanded playoff roster, Colorado Hockey Now has learned.

Timmins and Bo Byram, the team’s first-round pick from 2019, will be the two top defensive potential replacement players for the Avs in the postseason, which is slated to start Aug. 1 in Edmonton. While Timmins can play as many games as the coaching staff wants potentially, Byram can only play up to nine games before the Avs would have to “burn” the first year of his entry-level contract.

Timmins, who turns 22 in September, had a good season for the Colorado Eagles before the coronavirus shutdown happened. It was his first full season as a pro, and first season for any team after missing a full year because of concussion symptoms, suffered while in junior with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

In 40 games for the Eagles, Timmins scored three goals with 24 assists, with a minus-1. He played two games for the Avalanche at the start of the 2019-20 season before being sent to the AHL to play more regularly.

The Avalanche are expected to have their full roster of regular D-men for the playoffs. Training camp for the makeshift “Return to Play” NHL initiative, is slated to start Monday at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche can have up to 30 players on their expanded roster. Those additional players will be able to travel with the team to Edmonton and stay in the playoff “bubble” atmosphere.

Coach Jared Bednar can use the extra players in any game he wants; it doesn’t have to be just in an injury scenario.