2024 NHL Draft – Avalanche Day 2 Blog With Interviews

We’re back at it again for Day two of the 2024 NHL Draft, and the Colorado Avalanche hold eight picks on this day. Will they keep them all? Will they move some? Will additional trades be made that impact the NHL roster?

One thing I do know – Day Two moves a heck of a lot quicker than Day One, and if you blink, you might miss some picks. I’ll have a separate piece up on Colorado’s top pick at 38, but we’re going to keep track of everything on this blog that will continue to updated throughout the day. Yes, that even includes trades, if any happen. It will be difficult for the NHL to top Day One, as the production and experience at the Sphere was incredible on Friday night. The NHL should have the draft here every single June.

The Avalanche traded out of the first round on Friday night, and will pick early on Saturday morning. There are still several good players on the board that I would have been okay with at 24th overall, and there’s a very real shot a few of them are there for the taking at 38.

We’ll also keep track of any additional moves the Avalanche might make. We’re now about 48 hours away from the start of free agency on July 1, and Jonathan Drouin is still not signed. Cap space is clearly an issue for the team, so we’ll keep an eye on how they navigate that.

Colorado’s Draft Picks

38th Overall – Goaltender Ilya Nabokov

Wow. The first goalie off the board goes to the Avalanche. He’s an older guy at 21 but is coming off winning the KHL playoff MVP. Wonder if he comes over soon.

76th Overall – C/W William Zellers

Smaller forward heading to North Dakota next season. Played at Shattuck St. Mary’s, a prestigious hockey program, and put up 111 points in 54 games.

UPDATE: Zellers tells us he’s headed to Green Bay of the USHL before going to North Dakota.

121st Overall – C Jake Fisher

A 6’2” center headed to DU next season. Could do a lot worse than having a guy develop under David Carle.

132nd Overall – Goalie Louka Cloutier

Headed to Nebraska-Omaha in 2025-26. Avalanche going USHL heavy this year.

137th Overall – Goalie Ivan Yunin

Colorado has apparently bought into the fact that they can’t develop NHL goalies. And again, they are not afraid of Russia.

161st Overall – Center Max Curran

Max Curran, drafted by Colorado with the last pick of the 5th round, is a 6’4´´ two-way center with strong IQ. Pass 1st player, good vision, skating needs to improve. Solid project pick. #2024NHLDraft

— Tim Archambault (@TArchambaultPSL) June 29, 2024

185th Overall – D Tory Pitner

Another DU commit who is actually roommates with Jake Fisher. Very well spoken.

Tory Pitner, Colorado Avalanche prospect, is a very detailed, determined defender. Here’s how he compares to other USHL/CHL D in the draft:

• Slot Protection: 1st
• DZ Breakups: 1st
• Deflected & Blocked Shots: 2nd
• Slot Pass Interceptions: 2nd
• Rush Breakups: 7th pic.twitter.com/zV2fJShCuF

— Mitchell Brown (@MitchLBrown) June 29, 2024

215th Overall – Forward Christian Humphreys

Colorado picks Christian Humphreys 215th. I think he's a very smart player who can make a lot of plays. He was 71 on my board. So obviously like this late-round pick for Colorado.

— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) June 29, 2024

217th Overall – LW Nikita Prishchepov

Observations, News, And Trade Chatter –

7:56 AM: Andrew Cogliano’s crash course introduction to an NHL Front Office continues, as he’s present at the Avalanche draft table on Day 2.

9:17 AM: Holy trades! Utah is really trying to improve, trading for Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino. I guess the new owner wants things to be a little different this coming season. In addition, Tampa Bay seems to be clearing room for someone. Is it Steven Stamkos, or is it Jake Guentzel? They also got rid of Tanner Jeannot for a second rounder next year and a pick alter in this draft.

9:42 AM: Avalanche make another deal, moving 71 for 76 and 161. They just want more picks.

9:43 AM: What is Pittsburgh doing? Kevin Hayes? He is beyond washed up. Logan Thompson to Washington is interesting. Two right glove goalies on one team!

9:56 AM: Rode the elevator up with Thompson after he was traded. Awkward.

11:57 AM: MacFarland is still working the phones a lot. NHL team needs some wiggle room.

12:50 PM: Pavel Francouz will be joining the Avalanche staff and will be present at Development Camp. Peter Budaj is moving on.

1:07 PM: Toronto gets Chris Tanev’s rights. Okay, that’s smart. Now they’ll go give him a terrible contract.