The Colorado Avalanche chose seven prospects at the 2017 NHL Draft. Five of those prospects came in rounds four to seven.
Since about the middle of last year, GM Joe Sakic has been stating that the new team direction was to get younger and faster. Amateur scout Alan Hepple gave further insight in saying the team wanted players with great puck skills and who think the game fast.
Colorado’s picks in rounds one and two fit those molds. Fourth-overall defenseman Cale Makar is a high risk-high reward player who speeds around the ice. The #32 selection, defenseman Conor Timmins, is also an excellent skater with more two-way acumen.