In Day 2 of the NHL draft Saturday, the Avalanche continued to focus on play-making defensemen and remained quiet on the trade front.
With the first pick of the second round at the United Center in Chicago, the Avs chose Conor Timmins, a 6-foot-1, 184-pound defensemen who has similar attributes to Colorado’s first-round pick on Friday, Cale Makar — the draft’s highest-rated North American defenseman.
Both Makar and Timmins are considered skilled, puck-moving defensemen capable of quarterbacking the power play. Makar is loosely compared to Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson, and Timmins to Washington’s Kevin Shattenkirk.
Timmins, ranked fourth among North American defensemen, plays major-junior in the Ontario Hockey League for Sault Ste.