Training camp has to be one of the unique NHL environments, at least for the Colorado Avalanche. At the lower level, kids play arcade games, and upstairs, fans can bump into their favorite player in the hallway. Now that day three of training camp has wrapped up, we still do not have a clear picture of some of the bubble players. The coaching staff has set the top-nine forwards, but they are still uncertain about the bottom-three. The same goes for the last pair on defense. It could be any number three or four players. Here are the standouts from day three of the Avalanche training camp.
Pierre-Édouard Bellemare
Pierre-Édouard Bellemare is the only player here on a professional tryout. As a former member of the Avalanche 2019–2021, it may give him a leg up on the younger players trying to make the cut. Since before camp, he has been all out, playing the body and not the puck (even taking down Cale Makar). At age 39, he may have lost a step, but is doing his best to keep up with a fast group. The Avalanche could use his skills at the dot and on the penalty kill, so a league minimum offer would not be a bad idea. As a team player, he could teach his skills to other players before he leaves.
Here’s Bellemare chatting with Parker Kelly about faceoffs. Those two might be in direct competition for the 4C job. https://t.co/CDEwsRNyMx pic.twitter.com/cbVJ9ufDeS
— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) September 21, 2024
Sean Behrens
Sean Behrens popped today. He understood drills and executed them with ease. Behrens did not let the heavy play get to his head at all. When the puck was flying around boards, Behrens could keep it in the zone with no issues. His experience from college was showing in his first professional camp. Now, this does not change my mind that he will stick on the Avalanche roster this year, but he could see himself as a call-up. Behrens told me he has a modest goal this year, “to be in the conversation for a call-up to the Avalanche.”
Sean Behrens gains entry and Cal Ritchie sets Matt Stienburg up to one-time it into the open net. pic.twitter.com/5TwJggv4H7
— Meghan Angley (@megangley) September 16, 2024
Nikita Prishchepov
Nikita Prishchepov has shown some surprising speed through the two days of training camp that I have been here. This makes it easier for him to get around the corners when breaking in on the zone and get a shot off. He had a few exceptional moments to make him stand out among the second group skating today. One moment was when he drove around a defenseman and then sniped a corner on a diving Adam Scheel. At this point in camp, without a contract in hand, he will report to his QMJHL team, the Victoriaville Tigres. But, he may be something to look forward to for Avalanche and Colorado Eagles’ fans next year.
The shootout thread!
Nikita Prishchepov#Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/kzNiw09nx5— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 5, 2024
Conclusion
Bellemare is someone that I am cheering for both as a writer and as a fan. A player putting off retirement for one more chance at the Stanley Cup is something special. If he makes the squad, the only concern is that there is less playing time for someone like Parker Kelly. Watching the Eagles group, it sparks some excitement for the prospects that are in the system. Behrens may make his NHL debut this season and the fans can’t be more excited about it.