If there’s one thing that defines Nikita Prishchepov, it’s his unwavering willingness to do whatever it takes to make his NHL dream a reality. For the Colorado Avalanche, that determination might just be enough to earn the 21-year-old a coveted roster spot for the 2025–26 season.
A familiar presence at the Avalanche practice facility in recent weeks, Prishchepov has continued to impress with notable strides in both skating efficiency and on-ice poise. His shot, too, has not gone unnoticed. During
an optional skate last Wednesday, he hammered a one-timer with such velocity that it drew audible reactions — not just from teammates, including captain Gabriel Landeskog, but from the small group of fans in attendance.
Drafted 217th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft — the final pick by Colorado — Prishchepov has never viewed his late-round selection as a slight. Instead, he saw it as both a validation and a challenge: proof of his potential and a call to elevate his game. In his first professional season, he split time between the NHL and AHL, appearing in 10 games for the Avalanche and spending most of the year with their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. There, he recorded 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) in 51 games and notched his first professional hat trick — a sign that his offensive upside is still unfolding.
But stats only tell part of the story.
What has truly distinguished Prishchepov is his relentless work ethic. Over the past few weeks, he’s been one of the first on the ice for every optional skate — sessions that included veterans like newly-acquired defenseman Brent Burns. His consistency, drive, and eagerness to embrace every opportunity haven’t gone unnoticed. Coaches and scouts alike have praised his motor and maturity, citing his growth and improvement over the past season as a key reason he remains in the conversation for a NHL roster spot.
While we’re on the topic of improvement, where Prishchepov needs to improve is his consistency and pace of play. Sometimes he lets off the throttle when he needs to dig deep. With main camp just a week away, surely if there’s any sign of that, the Avalanche coaching staff, including Jared Bednar and new assistant Dave Hakstol, will address it with him directly.
While his NHL debut came under less-than-ideal circumstances — a wave of injuries forced Colorado’s hand — Prishchepov made the most of it. Though his minutes were limited, his energy and decision-making stood out. In a league that values depth, versatility, and reliability, his ability to contribute without needing top-line deployment is exactly what teams seek from players in the bottom six.
His junior résumé offers further evidence of his potential. In the QMJHL, he produced at a point-per-game pace — 67 points (22 goals, 45 assists) in 63 games — numbers that many prospects fail to reach at any level. That offensive spark, combined with his commitment to two-way play, makes him an intriguing depth piece as the Avalanche gear up for the season.
With the opening of rookie camp and a week until training camp, Prishchepov will be one of the players fighting hardest for a roster spot. And based on everything he’s shown so far — his work ethic, production, and presence — he’s proving that being a seventh-round pick doesn’t define your ceiling. It just defines how high you’re willing to climb.
