Avalanche News
Top Avalanche Prospect Commits to UMass
The Avalanche have another prospect joining the UMass Minutemen next season.
Forward Max Curran has committed to joining the school next season, according to College Puck NXT, a Twitter/X account that tracks college recruits.
Curran, 19, was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 draft by the Avalanche at just 17 years old. This is his third consecutive season in the Western Hockey League, and he will make the leap to college as a freshman next year as a 20-year-old.
Curran has 14 goals and 41 points in 31 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings this season. In his previous two years, he was a member of the Tri-City Americans. He had 32 points in 40 games leading up to the draft and had a breakout 2024-25 season, posting 22 goals and 74 points in 65 games. Curran also had three points in five playoff games last year.
A native of Praha, Czechia, Curran represented his nation during the 2026 World Junior Championships. He was a key contributor to their silver-medal finish, posting a goal and five points in seven games.
Cale Makar and his brother, Taylor, both previously played for head coach Greg Carvel at UMass.
What position does he play?
Forward
He plays center, but likely projects as a wing for the Avs.
Its ok avs gonna trade him. Just watch.
Whom do the Avs get back?
At least he is not a midget. 6,3 187lbs according to Elite Prospect.
Hopefully a good choice for him, and he can light up Hockey East like he has the WHL. He was a guy I was keeping an eye on from that draft class, and he has rewarded my faith so far. That does make him a prime trade candidate however, just like Will Zellers was last year – and he’s exploded over the last year as well. All-in-all, the 2024 draft looks extremely promising for the Avs: Ilya Nabokov looks like the real deal and potential goalie of the future when Wedgewood hangs it up; Zellers is no longer with the… Read more »
Francesco Dell’Elce, another Avs prospect is at UMass. The school produces NHL players but we’ll have to see if Dell’Elce or Curran ever play for the Avs or if they get moved