Colorado Avalanche Top 25 Under 25: #T-21 Louka Cloutier
Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images
Colorado’s 2024 5th Round Pick will play another year with the Chicago Steel after making the USHL All Rookie team. 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 August 1, 2024. Now, we’ll count down each of the 25 players ranked.
One of Colorado’s many new goaltending prospects, Louka Cloutier was the second of three netminders selected by the team in the 2024 NHL entry draft between Russians Ilya Nabokov and Ivan Yunin. Unlike those two, Cloutier is already in North America, where his stellar USHL rookie season with the Chicago Steel earned him a place on the league’s all rookie team.
Cloutier brings average size to the goalie position, which is actually somewhat unique in Colorado’s recent goaltending history - most guys have either been towers like 6’4 Justus Annunen or quicker smaller guys like 5’11 Pavel Francouz. The 17-year old’s game is predicated on positioning like a bigger goalie, but he has shown explosive quickness in a pinch to make saves with his athleticism as well.
When any other goalie would shudder in fear,Louka Cloutier says, "Fret not, for I am here"#FeelSteel | #DrSeussDay pic.twitter.com/apcYPWX6W0— Chicago Steel (@ChicagoSteel) March 3, 2024
He’ll play one more season with Chicago and has already committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha for the 2025-26 season, meaning his path the professional hockey is likely a long one, which is reflected in our conservative ranking. Colorado draft picks that go the college route very rarely jump to the pros early, therefore the young goaltender will have to prove to the organization he is worthy of a contract.
In what can only be described as a moderately interesting coincidence, Cloutier is the first Chicago Steel goaltender drafted since the Colorado Avalanche took Billy Sauer with a seventh round pick in 2006. Here’s hoping he makes more of an impact than that guy.
2024 Top 25 Under 25
#T-21 Kevin Mandolese
#23 Zakhar Bardakov
#24 Taylor Makar
#25 Maros Jedlicka
...
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