Colorado Avalanche Top 25 Under 25: #3 Ivan Ivan

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).

Name: Ivan Ivan

Age: 23

Position: Center

Height: 6’0

Weight: 190 lbs.

Likely 2025-26 Team: Colorado Eagles/Avalanche

2024 Rank: #11

Final Rank: #3

High Rank: #2 (Adrian)

Low Rank: #6 (Brennan)

2024-25 Statistics:

Colorado Avalanche – 40 GP:

5G, 3A, 8P

Colorado Eagles – 36 GP: 2G, 10A, 12P

One of the biggest surprises in the 2024-25 season was Ivan Ivan not only making the Colorado Avalanche opening night roster but playing in 40 NHL games in the first half of the season, and that is reflected in our ranking of the 23-year-old center at the third spot on our list. Due to the number of injuries on the Avalanche roster he was even entrusted with third line duty and didn’t look out of place especially with eight points of production and a little pop of offense on the second power play unit. At one point Jared Bednar declared Ivan was a “NHL player” and strong analytics backed that up.

Then the Avalanche decided to remake their roster and paired Ivan with the literal worst player in the NHL by expected goals (22.68%) in Givani Smith. A minor injury gave the Avalanche the excuse to send Ivan to the Colorado Eagles even as he still had a 51.49% expected goals after his run on the fourth line with sub-replacement level players. Ivan wasn’t as productive as one would have hoped in Loveland with just 12 points in 36 games. Part of it was getting used to the lack of structure in the AHL, surely some loss of confidence but also a diminished offensive role on the Eagles with minimal power play opportunity played a part as well.

So to say this upcoming season is pivotal for Ivan is an understatement. He will be in the final year of his Entry Level Contract after three years in the organization. Considering the amount of NHL experience Ivan already has and the level of versatility and defensive acumen he can provide in a bottom six role, he should be a strong candidate to graduate to the NHL by the end of the season. If Colorado’s goal is to remake the bottom lines with rentals and trades in the second half of the year again that opportunity might not be there for Ivan, which is the greatest concern and question for him heading into the 2025-26 season.