Colorado Avalanche Top 25 Under 25: Honorable Mentions

Yesterday we took a look at the youngsters in the Colorado Avalanche organization that didn’t get any votes from out writers in this year’s Top-25 Under 25. Now it’s time to reveal the players who received votes but didn’t get enough to make it into the Top-25.

Sampo Ranta - LW

2018 Rank: 16

Highest vote: 17 (Jackie)

Once all the votes were in, Ranta just missed the list finishing only a few points behind the player at No. 25. After being drafted in the third round in 2018, Ranta had a decent freshman year at the University of Minnesota scoring six goals and adding ten assists. He is expected to play a bigger role with the Gophers this season and could be one of the leaders for Finland at the next World Junior tournament. This is a player that we could see significantly higher on the list next summer.

Brandon Saigeon - F

2018 Rank: NR

Highest vote: 20 (Cat)

Fresh off signing an AHL contract with the Colorado Eagles, Saigeon finished tied with Ranta as the 26th player on our list. Saigeon is going to start his professional career next season after putting up some impressive offensive number in the OHL. Drafted as an overager last summer, Saigeon doesn’t yet have the skating ability to be an offensive threat at the NHL level but if he puts in work in the AHL, we could see him crack the Avalanche lineup as a depth winger one day.

Luka Burzan

2018 Rank: NR

Highest vote: 13 (Arielle)

The Avalanche drafted Buzan in his second year of eligibility earlier this summer. A center with good size, Burzan had a breakout season, scoring 40 goals for the Brandon Wheat Kings after putting up a total of only 29 in the previous two seasons combined. He was once thought of as a potential blue chip prospect - resulting in Moose Jaw selecting him 6th overall back in 2015. It took a while but Burzan looks to have figured out he WHL and if he continues to improve, a player with his goal scoring ability could end up as a very good piece of the organization down the line.

Ty Lewis - LW

2018 Rank: 14

Highest vote: 20 (Luke)

After signing as an undrafted free agent, Lewis spent last season split between the AHL and ECHL trying to adapt his game to the professional level. He finished the year with 19 points in 51 games with the Eagles. He’s got the drive and determination you want to see from a fringe prospect and with the potential for a bigger role in Loveland this season, we could see a big jump in production for Lewis.

Drew Helleson - RD

2018 Rank: NR

Highest vote: 20 (Jackie)

A second round pick this past season, Helleson is set to begin his NCAA career this fall at Boston College. He plays a simple game and skates very well for a guy his size. Helleson was counted on to play a more defensive role on the uber-talented U18 team last year but he has the puck moving skills to turn into a two-way defender with a little edge to his game. Don’t be surprised if he makes a huge jump up these rankings this year.

Matthew Stienburg - C

2018 Rank: NR

Highest vote: 17 (Chris)

Stienburg is a kid that is going to be easy to root for as he tries to develop into an NHL hockey player. Going to Cornell University next season, Stienburg overcame serious health issues that took him off the ice when he was in his mid teens. Now, a little behind in his development, the Avalanche thought he was worth taking 63rd overall in the 2019 draft. He’s the definition of a long-term project but the tools are there for Stienburg to surprise some people.

Cam Morrison - LW

2018 Rank: 23

Highest vote: 17 (Hardev)

After battling through injuries this past season, Morrison finished with only 31 points through 32 games at Notre Dame. A second round pick in 2016, Morrison is going to look to have a big senior year in order to prove he’s deserving of a contract next summer. He’s a very strong and smart player that could still end up turning into a bottom-6 winger in the NHL, but for now he sits on the long list of high draft picks the Avs let get away.

Sasha Mutala - RW

2018 Rank: NR

Highest vote: 23 (Tom)

Once thought of as a potential first round pick, the Avalanche were able to snag the talented winger in the fifth round of this year’s draft. From a raw production standpoint, Mutala’s junior career has been very disappointing, but a lot of that has to do with the 18-year old dealing with some pretty serous off-ice issues. Moving past them, Mutala looked really good at times last year and could be one of the breakout stars in the WHL this coming season. He has the potential to be the “whoa how did he drop that far” guy from the 2019 draft.

Travis Barron - LW

2018 Rank: 20

Highest vote: 24 (Hardev/Lauren)

Another player that spent last season getting acclimatized to professional hockey, Barron split time between the AHL and ECHL. A fan favorite in Loveland, expect Barron to continue his gritty, energetic and physical style for the Eagles this season.

Tyler Weiss - LW

2018 Rank: 17

Highest vote: 23 (Hardev)

After missing the start of his NCAA career due to injury, Weiss finished his freshman season at University of Nebraska-Omaha with three goals and eight assists. Colorado’s fourth round pick in 2018, Weiss is a very talented winger that should show some more offensive flare if he can stay healthy next season. A long term prospect with a lot of raw talent, Weiss is the kind of player you want to be spending late round draft picks on.