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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 August 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.
Left winger Tyler Weiss is prospect with some tenure in the Avalanche system as he was drafted at 109th overall in the fourth round of the 2018 draft. Weiss has been on a long journey to follow his hockey dreams since leaving home in North Carolina at an early age to play in Toronto and then with the US National Team Development Program.
Fast forward to today and Weiss has now completed three years in the NCAA at the University of Nebraska Omaha where he put up his career best numbers of 23 points including seven goals in 26 games in the 2020-21 season. This jump in production put Weiss in a tie for the team lead in points and helped the program qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time in six seasons.
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Weiss is a crafty and creative forward who uses his slick hands and speed to make dazzling plays but at 5-foot-11 and under 150 lbs his size has held him back from becoming a complete player. Taking the long road with time to bulk up in the NCAA was a great decision on his part. Last summer after an illness Weiss was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease which also helped explain why he was unable to put on weight for so many years and hopefully led to some better coping strategies moving forward.
#NTDP Alumni Update. Omaha's Tyler Weiss with the overtime game-winner for the Mavericks on Saturday night.
— Stars n’ Stripes Hockey (@StarsStripesHKY) February 8, 2021
The Colorado draft pick puts home his own rebound for his 5th of the year and a 5-4 Omaha victory. #EveryoneForOmaha #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/u2XQqvo4UU
The upcoming 2021-22 season will be Weiss’ senior year at Omaha and then the Avalanche will have to make a contract decision on him before their rights expire on August 15th next summer. If Weiss shows continued progression in production — also if he’s able to maintain weight gain — then he should be a player to give a contract to and invest in at the pro level.