CENTENNIAL — We are moments away from the start of the new season.
Rookie camp officially opened on Thursday, marking the first true showcase for the Colorado Avalanche’s next generation. While many of the organization’s established players have been skating together for several weeks, Friday will see the spotlight shift squarely onto the prospects. The rookies will open their slate at 6 p.m. against the Utah Mammoth (formerly Utah Hockey Club) at South Suburban Sports Complex (Rink 2), followed by
a second matchup on Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights at the same venue but at 1 p.m.
Stars Set the Tone
Earlier in the morning, the Avalanche’s core veterans took the ice for a demanding session characterized by high-tempo drills and capped with an extended scrimmage. The intensity was unmistakable, but so too were a handful of absences. Among them was Samuel Girard, who has been present at the practice facility yet has not participated in on-ice activities for nearly a month.
The contrast is striking when one considers the nearly full-roster participation of recent practices. Girard’s earlier skates, by comparison, had been limited to sparse groupings with Brent Burns, the occasional appearance from Brock Nelson, and goaltender Kaeden Edstrom of the College of St. Scholastica.
Goaltending rotations also bore watching. Starter Mackenzie Blackwood has taken part in drills, but the lion’s share of reps have gone to backup Scott Wedgewood. Newly acquired forward Victor Olofsson, meanwhile, has been something of an enigma—visible in a few sessions but absent of late.
One of the brighter developments was the chemistry between Martin Nečas and Artturi Lehkonen. During the scrimmage, Lehkonen created a second-chance goal after feeding Nečas in the slot and then cleaning up the rebound. Nečas, meanwhile, impressed with his vision and distribution, regularly finding teammates with creative no-look passes. Entering the final year of his contract, he appears poised to be a central piece of the Avalanche’s offensive engine this season.
Defensively, Colorado looked formidable. Cale Makar and Devon Toews disrupted plays with their usual efficiency, to the point where even captain Gabriel Landeskog found himself stymied by Toews—a testament to just how dialed-in the group already appears.
Rookies Step Into the Spotlight
For the rookies, the showcase was less about polish and more about proving a point: that they belong. Energy was not in short supply, but certain performances separated themselves. As expected, Gavin Brindley, Nikita Prishchepov, and Chase Bradley impressed, yet several under-the-radar names made equally strong cases.
Christian Humphreys, a player often viewed skeptically in scouting circles, delivered one of his sharper showings to date. His skating looked fluid, his decision-making sharp, and his interplay with linemates promising. A invite, Lucas Romeo, at 6-foot-3 and 214 pounds, leveraged his size to dominate physically, particularly along the boards, where he imposed his will with noticeable authority. Linus Funck, meanwhile, showcased his defensive commitment, sacrificing his body on multiple occasions to break up scoring chances.
On the blue line, Hank Kempf—acquired in the Ryan Lindgren trade—emerged as a quiet revelation. The Cornell product skated with poise, his edgework crisp and his transitions seamless, underlining a mature defensive game that projects well at the pro level.
Still, perhaps the defining moment belonged to Brindley, who fearlessly engaged in a board battle with 6-foot-5 Alex Gagne. Though Gagne ultimately came away with the puck, Brindley’s willingness to take on an opponent eight inches taller than him underscored his character and competitive drive. That blend of courage, urgency, and skill speaks volumes about his long-term upside.
In truth, none of the rookies left much to criticize. Each poured himself into the session, but those who stood out most did so not merely through effort but by translating that effort into impact—a promising sign for the Avalanche pipeline. The next step begins tonight when all their preparations turn to game action.
