Colorado Avalanche Top 25 Under 25: No. 15 Drew Helleson

The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by members of the Mile High Hockey community. Eight writers have ranked players under the age of 25 as of July 1, 2021 in the Colorado Avalanche organization. Each participant used their own metric of current ability and production against future projection to rank each player. Now, we’ll count down each of the 25 players ranked.

Drew Helleson is one heck of a prospect for the Avalanche coming out of Round 2 of the 2019 NHL Draft. It was a very successful draft for the Avalanche that saw them draft Bowen Byram fourth overall, overshadowing Helleson’s pick for the Avs in the second round.

At just 20 years old, Helleson’s future is bright, having served for the US U-20 at the World Juniors that saw him take home a gold medal up North of the border. After his success in Edmonton for the WJC, Helleson completed his sophomore year of college at Boston College.

Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images

A right-handed defensemen, Helleson has a smooth skating style through all three zones and plays a patient game. Despite only playing 22 games last season for Boston College, he recorded four goals and 11 assists for 15 points, averaging just under .70 points a game.

His game is only getting better. With the strong youth the Avs have in the back, Helleson will have to compete for a spot in the future. As he is currently unsigned by the organization, Helleson should have a strong third college season to try and get a contract with the Eagles. Don’t be surprised if a strong junior year could see him break into the bottom four of the Eagles in Loveland after his college season is complete.

While he won’t break into the bottom four of the Avalanche anytime soon, he could be in the lineup with injury woes a couple of years down the line. With strong competition from other prospect defenders such as Byram, Sean Behrens, and Justin Barron, it will be tough to break into the lineup.

However, with the up-and-coming style of Helleson’s play of being patient and moving the puck with ease similar to Cale Makar’s style, Helleson will play some games in the NHL. It’s only a matter of time until he puts on the ‘A’ for the first time.

T25U25

#16: Sean Behrens

#17: Mikhail Maltsev

#18: Alex Beaucage

#19: Trent Miner

#20: Colby Ambrosio

#21: Dennis Gilbert

#22: Daniil Zhuravlyov

#23: Tyler Weiss

#24: Nikolai Kovalenko

#25: Nick Henry