The 2025 Trade Deadline saw the Colorado Avalanche make plenty of moves to bolster the team’s depth for another Stanley Cup push. It came at the cost of numerous draft picks and some notable prospects, including William Zellers and recent first-round pick Calum Ritchie. Zellers is shooting the lights out in the United States Hockey League (USHL), leading the league in goal-scoring with 39 goals while adding 22 assists for 61 points in 43 games. The most notable name moved was Ritchie, the 27th pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft who scored his first career goal with the Avalanche at the start of the season. He has 15 goals and 53 assists for 68 points in 44 games for the Oshawa Generals this season.
The Avalanche are in win-now mode, Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon are in their prime, goaltending hasn’t been this good in years, and the depth rivals the one of the 2022 team we saw win it all, but what about the future if they don’t win it all? Who will grow and develop to fill in some spots with very few draft picks and prospects being moved for players to win now? Luckily, it isn’t all doom and gloom for this team’s prospect pool, as we could see some notable players join the team very shortly with their development.
Ilya Nabokov: Goaltender
General manager Chris MacFarland and president of hockey operations Joe Sakic had to make drastic decisions early in the season when Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen were not good enough in the crease. Their acquisitions of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, dubbed the “Lumberyard,” have been excellent this season and a significant reason they are back to their old winning ways, but who takes the net next? Wedgwood has one more year on his contract and is turning 33 next year, while Blackwood just signed a five-year $26.5 million extension, but someone will need to back him up. In comes Ilya Nabokov from Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Nabokov, who was drafted 38th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, has been one of the best goaltenders on one of the best teams in the KHL at age 21. Metallurg is 30-20-2, second in the Kharlamov division, second in the East Conference, and third in the KHL. He has a record of 23-16-0, a .925 save percentage (SV%), and a 2.15 goals-against average (GAA) . His 23 wins are ranked third most, and his SV% is ranked sixth among all goaltenders who have played 40-plus games.
Last season highlighted why Nabokov has the potential to make a significant impact. He outperformed his goaltending partner, former Calgary Flame Artyom Zagidulin, appearing in 43 games and achieving a record of 23-13-3 during the regular season with an impressive 2.15 GAA, a .930 SV%, and three shutouts. Nabokov’s performance earned him the Aleksei Cherepanov Award, recognizing him as the league’s best rookie.
He continued to shine in the playoffs, recording a 16-6 record and helping Magnitogorsk win its third Gagarin Cup and seventh league championship in franchise history. His exceptional playoff statistics included a 1.82 GAA, a .942 SV%, and four shutouts, which earned him the title of playoff MVP. His contract there expires at the end of May, which means he could sign his entry-level contract (ELC) and get some games in with the Colorado Eagles in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Sean Behrens: Defenseman
We saw Behrens play in the final game of the regular season with the Eagles and one game in the playoffs once he finished his playoff run with the University of Denver. What was supposed to be a great rookie season with the Eagles was postponed when he suffered a knee injury that required surgery and kept him out of the lineup for the whole season. Many forget what he can bring to the lineup when he is healthy.
Behrens is an exceptional player in transition. He skillfully executes controlled zone entries, often attracting the attention of two or three defenders. He frequently pinches down from the point, showcasing a versatile skill set once he gets into the offensive zone. Behrens can maneuver the puck effortlessly in any area of the offensive zone and is known for taking a powerful shot or delivering a beautiful pass from virtually any position. Behrens’ skating enables him to quickly achieve impressive speed over short distances, allowing him to move from one end to the other while skillfully maneuvering around opponents.
Perhaps the most likable trait of Behrens’ defensive game is that he plays like he’s 6-foot-4 when he’s 5-foot-10. He’s shown this sense of physicality when defending the net front and playing in the corners. Behrens also excels at forcing defenders out wide when breaking into their zone and isn’t afraid of laying the body. He also has a very active stick when defending in his zone, especially when killing a penalty. He will need some time to rehab from this devastating injury but expect him to be a full-time Avalanche in the next two to three seasons.
Mikhail Gulyayev: Defenseman
Returning to the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and the KHL, we have Mikhail Gulyayev. Although initially shocked when he was picked, I later understood his potential. With seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 64 games, he might not stand out, but he has made significant strides in his third KHL season. The intangibles he shows can stand out when he comes to North America.
Gulyayev is a strong defensive player with excellent gap control. He stays well-aligned with puck movement in low-danger situations. No matter which league he has played in—whether it’s the KHL, VHL, or MHL—he quickly adjusts to puck movement and maintains his positioning effectively in the corners. While he is agile and alert, he does not entirely shut down plays; instead, he avoids using his physicality to trap attackers fully. He focuses on applying enough pressure to keep opponents moving in low-danger areas without completely immobilizing them.
Gulyayev’s skating is his standout trait, making him a threat whenever he has the puck and a little space to maneuver. He accelerates effectively in straight lines and through crossovers, and his crossover techniques can be elusive, often leaving opposing defenders off balance during rushes. Additionally, Gulyayev possesses excellent edgework, contributing to his remarkable agility in all directions.
Although he takes many shots from the blue line, he effectively uses his crossovers to maintain his position. By shifting laterally along the blue line, he can center himself and create enough separation to take a shot toward the net. His contract expires on May 31, 2026, so he will play another season in the KHL. However, he will turn 20 when his contract expires, allowing him to play in the AHL when he signs his ELC.
The Avalanche have moved many of their recent prospects these past couple of seasons to improve their roster. While some moves have worked, others haven’t, and while seeing Ritchie and Zellers moved panicked everyone about the team’s future, they still have some promising players we will see in the coming seasons.
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