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: Tory Pitner
Age: 19
Position: Defense (R)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 180 lbs.
Likely 2025-26 Team: DU Pioneers
2024 Rank: #13
Final Rank: #13
High Rank: #11 (Jackie)
Low Rank: #18 (Ezra)
2024-25 Statistics:
DU Pioneers – 40 GP: 0G, 1A, 1P
After
a freshman season at the University of Denver in which he scored only one point in 40 games, Tory Pitner is now firmly flying under the radar. However, the left handed defenseman held steady at 13 on our poll likely due to the fact that we see potential waiting to break out as soon as his sophomore season with the Pioneers. Pitner dressed in the vast majority games in the 2024-25 season for DU but had a small role and didn’t see much ice time, which limited his impact. With the departure of key players, including the Minnesota Wild’s Zeev Buium, should open up opportunity for Pitner this fall.
Selected at 185th overall in the sixth round and in seventh position in Colorado’s massive nine-pick 2024 draft class, Pitner was the only defenseman taken that year and is an important part of the depth of the Avalanche organization at the position. Time will tell how long it might take for the 19-year-old to feel ready for pro hockey but the strides he takes this coming season will be an indicator of how advanced his timeline is. He should be a strong candidate for a NHL contract after a couple more years at DU.
Pitner is an intriguing prospect because uses his intelligence and a strong defensive acumen to impact the game, which should help him gain trust with coaches as he moves along in his career. While he may not be an offense-first player, the left handed defenseman is good at moving the puck and in transition with a quality accurate shot, Pitner could be relied on for some secondary production. If we are dreaming on upside, Pitner’s skill set and possible career trajectory is not unlike Devon Toews who was a late bloomer after three years in school at Quinnipiac. A strong year at DU would go a long way to realizing some of that potential.
2025 Top 25 Under 25
#25 Louka Cloutier
#24 Ivan Yunin
#22 Chris Romaine
#21 Nolan Roed
#20 Linus Funck
#19 Max Curran
#18 Jake Fisher
#17 Saige Weinstein
#15 Cooper Gay
