Day two of the NHL draft was a continuation of the first for the Avalanche. The Avs selected another defenseman with their second overall pick and a goalie who team chief scout Ted Hampson said was the best in the draft.
“We didn’t see anybody better than him,” Hampson said of Trevor Cann, 18, a former Canadian National Junior team member who was taken 49th overall by Colorado.
The first two choices by the Avs were defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk (14th overall) and Pennsylvania native Colby Cohen (45th). Both will attend Boston University as freshmen this fall.
“I’m excited because in a perfect world my priority was to improve our back end,” Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere said. “We have lots of good young forwards in our system, but we don’t have a lot of young defensemen coming up.”
The Avs had only four goalies under contract, which explains Cann’s selection. He was ranked as the second-best North American goalie available by the NHL’s Central Scouting Report, he was ranked first in the middle of the last season and he was the starter for Canada’s under-18 World Junior National team.
“He’s a workhorse type of goaltender,” Hampson said. “He’s played on national teams and played well. Generally, he’s been a goalie you can count on every night.”
The future of the Avalanche’s goaltending situation remains somewhat muddled with the uncertain status surrounding veteran Jose Theodore, who is slated to make $6 million this season on the last year of his contract.
The Avs have until June 30 to decide whether to buy out that last year, but $4 million would count toward Theodore’s $5.3 million salary cap number. Giguere did not clear up the situation Saturday.
“The reason I don’t want to say anything at this point is because I haven’t talked to (Theodore),” Giguere said. “I’m not saying I haven’t made my decision yet, but I want to be able to talk to the player first.”
The Avs selected nine players throughout the two-day draft – four forwards, three defensemen and two goalies. Second pick Cohen is considered an offensive defenseman, who Hampson said has “excellent skill and good size.”
Cohen played in the United States Hockey League last season, leading all defensemen with 13 goals and 60 points in 53 games for Lincoln.
The team did not select a forward until its fourth pick, winger T.J. Galiardi, 19. Galiardi played at Dartmouth last season but will play for Portland of the Western Hockey League this year. The Calgary, Alberta, native was second on the Big Green in scoring with 14 goals and 31 points.
Next up for Giguere is to resolve some of the remaining veterans’ contractual situations, including Theodore. The Avs have five players (Ken Klee, Ossi Vaananen, Brett McLean, Mark Rycroft and Patrice Brisebois) who can become unrestricted free agents July 1. Giguere said he has and will continue to negotiate.
Staff writer Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com.
Avalanche draft picks
KEVIN SHATTENKIRK (First round, 14th overall)
5-foot-11, 193 pounds, defense, shoots right
Born: Jan. 29, 1989, Greenwich, Conn.
Central Scouting Report: An offensive defenseman with good puck skills … reads the play well and is heady in transition … has good mobility along with quick feet … needs to add a physical presence to his game … needs to improve consistency of his defensive game.
Notes: Captained the U.S. national under-18 Team in 2006-07… helped Team USA win a silver medal at the 2006 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge – he had seven points (4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points) in seven games … recorded 33 points (13-20) in 53 games with the U.S. national under-17 team in 2005-06 … selected to participate in the 2007 World Championships … will be attending Boston University in the fall.
2006-07 statistics
Team League GP G A PTS PIM
U.S. U-18 USDP 48 12 22 34 60
COLBY COHEN (Second round, 45th overall)
6-2, 200 pounds, defense, shoots left
Born: April 25, 1989, Villanova, Pa.
Notes: Cohen, 18, played in 53 games for the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League in 2006-07, leading USHL defensemen in scoring, with 60 points (1 3/47). Cohen was ranked in the top 25 for this year’s draft, according to the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Report. … Will attend Boston University.
Central Scouting Report: A skilled offensive defenseman … has good puck skills and a good shot from the point … makes good passes and sees the ice well … needs to improve his defensive positioning and the consistency of his work ethic.
2006-07 statistics
Team League GP G A PTS PIM
Lincoln USHL 53 13 47 60 110
TREVOR CANN (Second round, 49th overall)
5-11, 199 pounds, goaltender, catches left
Born: March 30, 1989, Oakville, Ontario
Central Scouting Report: A butterfly goalie … gets set very quickly for shots … shows good durability and focus … has good rebound control and is aggressive with covering up loose pucks … plays with confidence … needs to be more consistent … needs to increase communication with his defenders.
2006-07 statistics
Team League P W-L-T-OTL GAA SO SV%
Peterborough OHL 62 23-32-2-4 3.69 0 .909
T.J. GALIARDI (Second round, 55th overall)
6-2, 172 pounds, wing, shoots left
Born: April 22, 1988, Calgary, Alberta
Central Scouting Report: A shifty skater with very good puck skills … has soft hands and completes difficult passes through traffic … has a quick stick along the boards and a quick release … anticipates the play well and is determined when pursuing the puck … needs to add strength and size to his frame … needs to improve his acceleration.
2006-07 statistics
Team League GP G A PTS PIM
Dartmouth ECAC 29 14 17 31 28
BRAD MALONE (Fourth round, 105th overall)
6-2, 207 pounds, center/left wing, shoots left
Born: May 20, 1989, Miramichi, New Brunswick
Central Scouting Report: A power forward … has good puck protection skills … plays physical and drives hard to the net … is a good positional player … needs to improve his acceleration and mobility.
2006-07 statistics
Team League GP G A PTS PIM
Sioux Falls USHL 57 14 19 33 134
KENT PATTERSON (Fourth round, 113th overall)
6-1, 184 pounds, goalie, catches left
Born: Sept. 15, 1989, Plymouth, Minn.
2006-07 statistics
Team League W-L-OTL GAA SO SV%
Cedar Rapids USHL 20-5-3 2.91 2 .913
PAUL CAREY (Fifth round, 135th overall)
6-0, 175 pounds, center, shoots left
Born: Sept. 24, 1988, Boston.
2006-07 statistics
Team League GP G A PTS PIM
Salisbury High-CT 24 16 11 27 16
JENS HELLGREN (Sixth round, 155th overall)
6-3, 187 pounds, defense, shoots left
Born: March 6, 1989, Bjorbo, Sweden
Central Scouting Report: A smooth-skating defenseman … plays with confidence and has improved his quickness … moves the puck well and has good hockey sense … effective on the power play and has a good work ethic … needs to use his size to his advantage … competed at the 2007 Under-18 World Championships and the 2006 Under-18 Four Nations Tournament with Team Sweden.
2006-07 statistics
Team League GP G A PTS PIM
Frolunda Jr. SWE Jr. 40 4 6 10 26
JOHAN ALCÉN (Seventh round, 195th overall)
6-2, 191 pounds, forward, shoots right
Born: Nov. 3, 1988, Sandviken, Sweden
2006-07 statistics
Team League GP G A PTS PIM
Brynäs IF J20 Superelit (SWE) 26 17 29 46 46
