Colorado Avalanche Top 25 Under 25: #14 Christian Humphreys
Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images
Will this seventh rounder shine and move up our list? The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by members of the Mile High Hockey staff. Six writers have ranked players under the age of 25 as of August 1, 2024, in the Colorado Avalanche organization. Now, we’ll count down each of the 25 players ranked.
Lost in the Colorado Avalanche’s massive nine-pick 2024 draft class is this seventh round selection who might become the steal of their draft class. As one of the 100 draft eligible hopefuls invited to the NHL’s scouting combine and with a ranking of 71 on NHL Central Scouting’s North American skaters list Christian Humphreys was expected to go mid-round at the latest in the draft.
It was a tough year for the US National Team Development Program with no real standouts other than first rounder Cole Eiserman but the rest of the forward core were all drafted in the second or third round. Humphreys had a productive season overall scoring 58 points in 52 games and had a nice Under-18 World Championship tournament scoring four goals in seven game as team USA won the silver medal.
So the biggest question, why did Humphreys fall to the end of the draft? Some scouts felt he had a better first half before injuries and getting moved around the lineup slowed his production. There can be a lack of pace or assertiveness to Humphreys’ game at times but on the flip side he also has a knack for carrying the puck and setting up his teammates.
There’s plenty of room for growth if Humphreys can round out his game over the course of his NCAA career at Michigan which is slated to begin this fall. The talent is there and the Avalanche could be the beneficiary of taking him with pick number 215th overall, which is why Humphreys has been given an encouraging ranking at #14 in his first year as part of the Avalanche organization.
2024 Top 25 Under 25
#15 Trent Miner
#16 Max Curran
#17 Saige Weinstien
#T-18 Jake Fisher
#T-18 Matthew Stienburg
#20 Chase Bradley
#T-21 Louka Cloutier
#T-21 Kevin Mandolese
#23 Zakhar Bardakov
#24 Taylor Makar
#25 Maros Jedlicka
...
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