Nikita Prishchepov, Seventh-Round Pick, Poised to Be Third Player from 2024 Draft to Make NHL Debut

You don’t often see seventh-round draft picks play in the NHL. None of the seventh-round selections from 2021-24 have made their debuts. At least not yet.

But against all odds, The Avalanche’s No. 217 pick from the 2024 draft just five months ago is poised to make his NHL debut on Saturday. Nikita Prishchepov, 20, was called up ahead of the Avs’ road game in Nashville. He would be the first seventh-rounder to debut in the same year he was drafted since goalie Dylan Ferguson in 2017. No one else has done it since the 2004-05 lockout.

Only eight guys were selected after Prishchepov at the Sphere in June. Not only is he fast-tracking to the NHL, but he’s doing it in a year where only two guys from the draft have played NHL games. No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini has suited up for the San Jose Sharks, albeit only for one game before suffering an injury. He’s expected back soon. And No. 13 overall pick Jett Luchanko dressed in four games for the Philadelphia Flyers before being sent back to the OHL’s Guelph Storm.

Prishchepov finds himself in a unique situation. Because he was an overage draft pick, he was able to play in the American Hockey League right away. Coming off an impressive training camp, the Russian forward signed his entry-level contract and has played well for the Colorado Eagles. He has a goal and three assists in six games. He’s also looking to make the most of an opportunity that only came to be because of a string of injuries and suspensions to the Avalanche lineup.

Already missing four of its top forwards, Colorado lost Miles Wood and Ross Colton to injury on Monday. They were replaced in the lineup with AHL call-up T.J. Tynan and defenseman Oliver Kylington, who was tasked with playing on the wing. But in the very next game, rookie forward Matt Stienburg was assessed a match penalty for charging. He was later suspended for two games and sent back to the AHL to make room for a replacement.

Prishchepov might not stick around for long, at least not now. But first impressions could go a long way for head coach Jared Bednar. He already did a great job of turning heads at camp. But if he shows well in his likely limited opportunity, it’ll only help him in the future. The Avalanche could sure use a draft steal in the later rounds.