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).
In the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, with the 137th overall pick, the Colorado Avalanche selected Ivan Yunin, a relatively unknown Russian goaltender.
When a player is selected late in the draft, the prevailing assumption tends
to be dismissive — something along the lines of, “Well, this guy must not be very good. He’s unlikely to amount to much.” But that perspective is both shortsighted and unfair.
The reality is, every athlete who hears their name called has demonstrated a meaningful level of talent. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be in the draft conversation at all. Much like Major League Baseball, the sheer volume of skilled players today makes the landscape intensely competitive. And with each passing year, the bar continues to rise. The modern game demands more — faster thinking, sharper execution, deeper commitment.
We’ve reached a point in the sport’s evolution where only the exceptional — the truly special — will earn the right to play in the NHL. It’s no longer enough to be good. You have to be special.
As it stands, Yunin is very young so his developmental path is wide open. There’s a good chance of him becoming a solid depth prospect if he’s developed correctly. Standing at 6’2” and 196 pounds, he has good size at the goaltending position. Moreover, he has a solid foundation and an impressive junior résumé, but where he’s a little bit behind is experience in high-caliber professional leagues. That matters a lot.
Where Can Yunin Improve?
During the 2022–23 campaign, Ivan Yunin posted a remarkable .952 save percentage over 20 appearances with Russia’s U18 national team—a performance that quickly drew the attention of scouts. His game was marked by a composed presence in net, highlighted by sharp rebound control, disciplined positioning, and advanced puck-tracking ability for his age.
Consistency, however, remains an area of concern. Across 16 games with Omskie Krylia in the VHL—Russia’s second‑tier professional circuit—Yunin managed only an .881 save percentage, a figure that underscores the growing pains inherent in translating junior dominance to the demands of the pro game. The other fact is Yunin quickly rose to that level, as he only played in eight games at the MHL level and six the year prior.
Why Did Colorado Draft Him?
Realistically, Yunin doesn’t have a great shot at making the NHL. That’s not to say the possibility doesn’t exist—it does—but by any objective measure, it remains remote. Still, for the Avs, selecting Yunin represents a textbook example of a low-risk, high-upside proposition. If he blossoms into a high-caliber goaltender, the organization stands to benefit significantly without having invested substantial capital. If not, the cost of the gamble remains minimal.
It’s worth noting that Yunin’s standout .952 save percentage with Russia’s U18 national team was no anomaly; it demonstrated his raw shot-stopping ability. But the challenge lies in translating that performance into sustained success against professional competition. In all likelihood, Yunin will continue his development with Omskie Krylia in the VHL, where the focus will be on cultivating consistency and adapting to the rigors of the pro game. For now, his trajectory remains that of a long-term project, one that has very little chance of earning a high score.
2025 Top 25 Under 25
#25 Louka Cloutier
