NHL Draft Bingo Card
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Can we get a bingo on draft day? We know the trade deadline can be predictable but so can the NHL draft. Despite the Colorado Avalanche letting go of their director of amateur scouting there still are some familiar patterns to look out for from the organization and the draft in general.
There are some typical player types that the Avalanche favor. Character and captaincy is one attribute we’ve seen often. Colorado has always been known to have affinity for strong skaters and those with a goal scoring touch, both as forwards and defensemen, which got Cale Makar and Bowen Byram selected high. In goaltenders the organization loves them the bigger the better as we’ve seen several six-foot-four and larger drafted, such as Justus Annunen.
The source of their picks also is a hallmark of Avalanche drafts as they’ve been hitting the NCAA route hard and drafting from the USHL and Junior A leagues. Outside of their first round selections not many of these players have signed, Sampo Ranta being one exception, so will we see a shift back to heavier emphasis in the CHL like with Calum Ritchie last year? Russia is another avenue to explore and with the pick of Mikhail Gulyayev also in 2023 are the Avalanche now more comfortable with first round Russians and this draft will have many options if that’s the case.
As always there are many familiar phrases we hear surrounding the draft in general. Commissioner Gary Bettman will surely say at one point “we have a trade to announce”. And we will hear in interviews that a player selected was “higher on their board” as well as a lot of talk about high floor and upside.
Follow along and see if we can get a draft bingo!...
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