Colorado Avalanche Top 25 Under 25: #21 Nolan Roed

Another Avalanche seventh rounder recently added to the pipeline.

The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by Mile High Hockey staff members. Six writers have ranked players under the age of 25 in the Colorado Avalanche organization as of September 1, 2025. Now, we’ll count down each of the 25 players ranked (plus one Honorable Mention).

Rounding out their recent 2025 draft class, the Colorado Avalanche selected left shot center Nolan Road at 214th overall in the seventh round. After a documented particular affinity with seventh rounders, there’s promise that their newest prospect may follow in their footsteps to a NHL contract and perhaps NHL games. First, the 19-year-old must begin his college career at St. Cloud State, though, where he’s set to join the incoming freshman class this fall.

The Avalanche like prospects on a longer timeline to pro hockey and Roed fits the bill as someone who played the last two seasons in the USHL before heading to college. In his first full season in the league, the native of White Bear Lake, Minnesota had a breakout year which earned him third All-Star team honors. With 60 points in 61 games including 27 goals, Roed led the Tri-City Storm in scoring.

Roed Warrior 🚌

Nolan Roed (@TriCityStorm ) cuts into the zone and finishes on the backdoor. The @SCSUHuskies_MH commit has three goals and three assists in his last four games - all on the road #USHL pic.twitter.com/Ac7I0zE3Zt

— USHL (@USHL) March 3, 2025

NHL Central Scouting subsequently listed Roed at 135th for North American skaters in his second time through the draft, which is another hallmark of the Avalanche draft strategy. Overlooked late bloomers from the USHL on the NCAA path is where the organization has invested a lot of draft capital in recent years in the hopes that they can get an older college graduate across the finish line an into the NHL.

Per a St. Cloud State release, Colorado also has a certain familiarity with the program especially considering their recent signing of Husky goaltender Isak Posch.

“Roed is the fourth Husky to be drafted by the Avalanche, joining Mark Parrish (1996, third round, 79th overall), Jeff Finger (1999, eighth round, 240th overall) and Ben Storm (2013, sixth round, 153rd overall).”

There was a fairly strong consensus to rank Roed around the 20th spot. A new draftee gets the benefit of the doubt and he will have a lot of time in school to show his skill and contract potential. Unfortunately Roed did not skate at Avalanche development camp, presumably due to an injury, so that is another reason there isn’t much opinion formed on the young forward. But, Roed is ready for the next step at St. Cloud State and we’ll be watching closely.