Tyson Jost leaves North Dakota to sign with the Avalanche

It wasn’t a foregone conclusion, but when Tyson Jost told the Denver Post’s Terry Frei this past summer he only planned to play “one or two years” in the NCAA, it was clear the 19-year-old from St. Albert saw himself on the fast-track to the NHL. The 5’11” 2016 tenth overall pick is now one step closer to reaching that goal after signing an entry-level contract today with the Colorado Avalanche, after playing one year for the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

Despite missing a handful of games this season due to injury and his selection to the Canadian World Junior Championship team, Jost was second on the roster, scoring 16 goals and 19 assists in 33 games—leading his team to the playoffs and being named to the NCHC all-rookie team.

Jost’s NCAA season ended last week, when they lost a two-overtime heartbreaker to Boston University, a game they briefly believed they had won before the apparent game-winning goal in the first overtime was overturned following an instant replay. Fellow Fighting Hawk—and frequent linemate—Brock Boeser signed with the Vancouver Canucks immediately after the loss, signaling a mass exodus for many of the higher draft picks on the team.

With just a half-dozen games remaining, Jost is likely to see an immediate opportunity with the big club. Players are allowed to play nine or fewer games in the NHL before the standard three-year ELC kicks in. He will join fellow rookies Mikko Rantanen and J.T. Compher in the top forward group. All three should be a significant part of the rebuilding process going forward.