Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche Phase 3 training camp roster is here
The Avalanche just released their Phase 3 camp roster to the public, and here it is:
I count 34 players (four goalies, 12 D-men and 18 forwards) on the Avalanche Phase 3 camp roster. I guess the one notable omission is veteran forward Colin Wilson, who was hurt most of the regular season. As I write this, there is no official explanation on that by the Avs, but I’ll pass it along when/if that happens. I don’t think Wilson would have been included in the top 12 forwards to start the playoffs, yet I do think he would have been some nice veteran insurance in case of injuries. I’m sure Jared Bednar will give a full accounting of why he wasn’t on the roster, tomorrow.
*The Avs roster on NHL.com still lists Wilson as on injured reserve.
The other notable players NOT on the roster, I think, are Martin Kaut and A.J. Greer. If Kaut had played just one game in the postseason, the Avs would have had to eat the first year of his entry-level contract. He played nine games for the Avs in the regular season. I thought the Avs might go ahead and include him as true emergency insurance, but no.
Greer? That’s probably a bad sign for his future with the Avs. This is the last year of his contract with the Avs organization. Who knows, don’t want to speculate on that too much probably, but it’s obviously not a good sign for him.
As reported here a few days ago, the roster includes several players from the Colorado Eagles, including Conor Timmins and Shane Bowers, and also includes top prospect Bo Byram. There are four goalies, including youngster Adam Werner. Unless Wilson was an “opt-out” player (which I haven’t been told is the case) no Avs players took that option. A handful of NHL players have taken it.
Phase 3 camp starts tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. at the Pepsi Center. I’ll be there to report all the details. It will obviously be a surreal thing, not being able to go into the locker room and talk to players individually, but it is what it is. All interviews from Phase 3 training camp (and throughout the playoffs in Edmonton) will be done “virtually.” That’s what happens, I suppose, in a global pandemic.
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Colin Wilson is included in the list on their website with an * injured reserve notation. I also thought the omission of Kaut stood out like a sore thumb so to speak. Guess they really don’t want to put that first ELC year in jeopardy just yet with the new financial restrictions in place for the next few years. I’m thinking that at this point Greer just needs a fresh start somewhere else and hopefully that can be arranged one way or another (either qualify and trade or just not qualify if no trades are available). How do you foresee… Read more »
I think it was the wise move by Joe Sakic not to burn Kaut’s first year. If the Avs have that many injuries to the forwards that they’d have to use Kaut, they wouldn’t be winning the Cup no matter what. Not to slight Kaut at all by saying that, but let’s get real
I agree. With the flat cap for the next couple of years every dime saved is going to help out there. I think the goalie discussion is going to be most interesting if they only take 3 or if the opt to take all 4.
Sakic made the right choice by unfortunately keeping Kaut off of the roster due to his contract issues. Kaut is obviously part of the Avs bright future. Kaut needs to continue to work hard to develop his game to find himself on the Avs.
Wilson’s not on the list due to the fact we are not resigning him and why make a guy start conditioning when he hasn’t played all year and is coming off two surgeries theres no point better off using someone like dries or o connor even tho tho have no experience they will have a lot more energy. Kinda surprised by Werner over mishka any ideas dater?