We've taken a look at Stefan Elliott, Tyson Barrie and Cameron Gaunce. Now here's a brief look at the other 9 defensemen attending rookie camp.
Derek Peltier, 5'11" 190, Age 24. Peltier was drafted in the 6th round of the 2004 draft out of the University of Minnesota (where he was a teammate of Ryan Stoa). You'll remember him from his 11-game NHL taste this spring where he held his own steadily (if unspectacularly). Of course, I thought Michael Vernace held his own pretty well too, and look where that got him (answer: Atlanta). Outlook: Peltier likely will spend the bulk of the upcoming season in the AHL, but would be one of the first guys called up to fill in for an injury.
Ray Macias, 6'2" 195, Age 23. Of all the defensive call-ups with the Avalanche last year, Macias was the only one to garner a point (on the powerplay, no less!). He moved between the AHL, NHL and ECHL last year. Outlook: Like Peltier, Macias is probably only going to make an NHL appearance if there's injuries with the big club.
Wes O'Neill, 6'4" 215, Age 23. O'Neill is the biggest defenseman the Avalanche have under contract. He's a former 4th round pick of the Islanders signed to a rather hefty deal two summers ago ($695,000 bonus). He didn't fair well in his call-up this spring, but his size may give him another look at some point. Outlook: AHL.
Ryan Wilson, 6'1" 207, Age 22. Wilson is an undrafted free agent acquired in the Jordan Leopold deal. We still don't know a ton about him Outlook: AHL
Joel Chouinard, 6'1 196, Age 19. The Avalanche took Chouinard in the 6th round of the 2008 draft. He just finished his 3rd season with the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL (where he's teammates with Alex Tanguay's brother Maxime). I don't know much about him, except that over 161 games he has about twice as many penalty minutes (180) as points (76). Outlook: Back to juniors.
Kevin Montgomery, 6'1" 185, Age 21. Montgomery, a 4th round pick in the 2006 draft, is another defenseman with offensive ability. He's been playing for the London Knights of the OHL with a couple of brief appearances with the Monsters on a tryout contract. He also went to Ohio State University, but let's not hold that against him. Outlook: Montgomery will return to London to play for head coach Dale Hunter.
Matt Clarke, Patrick Cusack, Samuel Finn. These three undrafted free agents are in camp on an amateur tryout. Cusack and Finn are with the Lewiston MAINEiacs - a team the Avalanche have likely scouted often due to the (former) presence of Peter Delmas. Clarke is a forward/defenseman (I've seen him listed as both) for London, a team that featured Montgomery and Trevor Cann as well as John Tavares and Nazem Kadri, so you know the Avalanche scouts have gotten a good look at him as well. Outlook: You never know...