Assessing options for Colorado Avalanche in NHL draft first round

Chris MacFarland could use another couple of days at the NHL draft like he experienced a year ago.

The Colorado Avalanche general manager won’t have some of the same tools available to him to help reshape his current roster, but MacFarland and his club could certainly use an impact prospect, some present help for the NHL team, or both.

Colorado has the No. 24 selection at the 2024 NHL draft, which next weekend in Las Vegas. The Avs currently don’t have another pick until the fourth round, at No. 121.

“The first-round pick is an unreal asset,” MacFarland said at the NHL draft combine earlier this month in Buffalo, N.Y. “We believe we’re going to have the opportunity to get a really good hockey player at that spot. Will the phone ring? During draft week, it usually does. Right now, we’re doing the grunt work on the guys and the final touches on our list.”

A year ago, the Avs traded a young player (Alex Newhook) for the No. 31 and 37 picks and used some extra cap space to add Ryan Johansen in a salary dump move by Nashville. They also used pick Nos. 27 and 31 on their top two prospects, Calum Ritchie and Mikhail Gulyayev, and traded No. 37 to Tampa Bay for Ross Colton.

MacFarland doesn’t have a player quite like Newhook to dangle, though Daily Faceoff reported that Colton could be available if the Avs seek some cap relief to try and sign other players. He doesn’t have the cap space to take advantage of another team’s squeeze.

But there could be a future impact player available at No. 24. The Avs could try to move back and add another pick, or move No. 24 for an NHL player, presumably a cost-controlled one who helps the cap puzzle fit together.

Who are some of the players that could be available at No. 24? The Avs’ pipeline is thin, so positional need should not be an issue.

We compiled a composite ranking from seven draft expert sources — The Athletic, ESPN, TSN, Sportsnet, FLO Hockey, Daily Faceoff and Elite Prospects — for players who might be drafted at or near the 24th selection.

Michael Hage, center

Height, weight: 6-foot-1, 188 pounds

Composite: 19.5

Hage had a dominant season for the Chicago Steel in the USHL, the same program that helped develop Macklin Celebrini and Adam Fantilli and is headed to Michigan next season. He should go in the teens, but two lists had him in the mid-20s.

Igor Chernyshov, wing

Height, weight: 6-3, 204