Various young forwards’ rise gives Avs more options

3 days ago  /  Mile High Hockey

Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images


The most recent trade shows where Colorado stands with the likes of Ivan Ivan and others. The massive trade the Colorado Avalanche made for MacKenzie Blackwood was a major shake-up in the crease from the start of the season. But another major part of the move was sending Nikolai Kovalenko alongside Alexandar Georgiev to the San Jose Sharks.
From an initial standpoint, it may have been a bad look to give up a player who has been growing in the organization since he was drafted in 2018. Kovalenko also looked good to start the year in the bottom six after coming over from the KHL just last year, but he ended up not getting much of an opportunity.


NIKOLAI KOVALENKO SCORES HIS FIRST NHL GOAL! pic.twitter.com/KoquRbifdi— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 28, 2024




The trade may leave a hole in the lineup, but it’s quite rather the opposite. This is because Ivan Ivan has propelled himself into a solidified NHL forward in the bottom six.
That was the hope for Kovalenko, but the Avs decided otherwise. There were a couple of reasons to do so, including his contract situation. Kovalenko was in the final year of his entry-level contract with restricted free agency and arbitration rights upcoming, whereas Ivan is just in his first ELC year.


IVAN IVAN‼️ He's got his first NHL goal goal! pic.twitter.com/NhqXygN6og— NHL (@NHL) October 25, 2024




Furthermore, Ivan’s play has allowed the Avalanche to move on to bigger and better with his expandability. The 22-year-old had been a point-per-game player for two of the last four years, including 90 points in 64 games with the Cape Breton Eagles in the QMJHL.
In 31 games this season, he has five goals and three assists. While he may not stand out on the score sheet, he does the little things and hard work right. He’s become a mainstay on the second unit of the power play even with several regular forwards returning to the lineup.
Ivan’s two-way abilities open more than what Kovalenko could have offered. The expectation for Kovalenko was to jump up into the middle six, but he had fallen from grace to the fourth line.
Aside from Ivan, another future forward for the Avalanche played earlier this year and is tearing it up in the OHL: Calum Ritchie.
Ritchie played seven games with the Avs with one goal to his name. With the Oshawa Generals, he has 34 points in 18 games and is toying with every opponent he plays. It’s only the start for Ritchie who is hopefully bound to join Colorado full-time next season.


Calum Ritchie pulled out the shootout fake move again.Misa and Martone have been box office. Sennecke has been hit. Cowan remains consistent. But Ritchie’s the best player in the OHL for my money. pic.twitter.com/vgq6EqcBHl— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) November 16, 2024




A combo of Ritchie and Ivan in the middle six will give the Avalanche life for years to come. Plus with additions and subtractions in the lineup, they just may be an influential part of the forward core.
One more interesting name was added to the mix. Twenty-year old 2024 seventh round pick Nikita Proshchepov has received two call-ups for a total of 10 games with the Avalanche. Though he hasn’t registered any points the young Russian has impressed with his smarts and physical play. Hopefully there is more room for an opportunity to turn into a regular role for him moving forward.


MacFarland referenced Ivan, Prishchepov, Ritchie and… Taylor Makar as young players/prospects that made it possible for the Avs to move on from Kovalenko.— Jesse Montano (@jessemontano_) December 9, 2024




While it’s still yet to be seen, time will tell how Kovalenko does in San Jose and how Prishchepov, Ritchie, and Ivan will be in the coming months and years to come. Let us know what you think in the comments below! ...

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