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Colorado Avalanche announce roster for 2021 rookie tournament

Some big names will be in the lineup for the Avalanche at this year’s Arizona Rookie Faceoff

By Tom Hunter
Minnesota Wild v Colorado Avalanche Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images

As we get closer and closer to the 2021-22 NHL season, the Colorado Avalanche announced Thursday who will be in attendance at this year’s development camp and representing the team the Arizona Rookie Faceoff. It’s a very impressive lineup, featuring some big names and a couple guys who are locks to be in the NHL this season.

Former first round picks Bo Bryam, Alex Newhook, Shane Bowers, Justin Barron and Oskar Olausson will represent the Avalanche along with a few others who could be regulars in the NHL as early as this season. After being selected 28th overall this past summer, Olausson will be the only member of the Avs 2021 draft class to take part in this year’s development camp.

One very interesting name on the list is recent free agent signee Andreas Wingerli. The undrafted winger - who will turn 24 before the seasons start - will get his first taste of North American hockey at the tournament after coming over from Sweden where he played in their top league for the last five seasons. Wingeri is a high-energy forechecker who is a dark horse to make the Avalanche bottom-6 out of training camp.

Another key part of the team is Sampo Ranta, who joined the Avalanche for two playoff games last season after concluding a very impressive junior season at the University of Minnesota. Ranta is a big bodied sniper who many believe could become a big part of the NHL roster very soon.

Forwards Ryan Hofer, Jack O’Brien, Matej Kaslik and defenders Graham Sward, Rhett Rhinehart, Mitchell Smith and Nicolas Savoie will all join the development camp and rookie tournament roster on Amateur Tryout contracts.

These 28 players will participate in development camp the week of September 12th before they head to Arizona for game action.

The Avalanche open the Arizona Rookie Faceoff against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, September 17 at 4 p.m. MT. They then play the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, September 19 at 5 p.m. MT and the San Jose Sharks on Monday, September 20 at 10 a.m. MT.