Hunter Miska entered the Avalanche’s rookie camp Friday anywhere from third to fifth on the organization’s goaltending depth chart.
The former Minnesota-Duluth standout could become the No. 1 guy with the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League, but also fall to the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL.
One thing is for certain: Miska aims to provide quality depth behind Avs starter and backup Pavel Francouz. If Grubauer struggles or is injured and the unproven Francouz doesn’t fill the void, the 24-year-old is probably the next man up.
After signing an AHL contract as a free agent in July, he is in rookie camp along with signed 2016 draft pick Adam Werner, 22, and unsigned 2019 draft pick Trent Miner, 18.
“I know I can be successful in this league,” the Minnesota-born Miska said of the NHL. “I just need to get the opportunity to show that I can be the guy. I’m ready for that opportunity.”
Standing 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, Miska has one game of NHL experience, playing 18 minutes for the Coyotes last season. He played 25 games for the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners in 2018-19 and 36 as a first-year pro in 2017-18. He signed with the Coyotes as an undrafted free agent following his freshman year at UMD.
If Miska had remained a Bulldog, he would have been a senior this coming season. But he likes the fact that he’s going to be a third-year pro.
“I felt like I did pretty well in my first year (in the NCAA) and had a good opportunity to move to the next level. You never know what’s going to happen. You never know if your game’s going to be done tomorrow,” Miska said. “So I went after it in Arizona. I loved my experience there. I got two years under my belt with pro hockey.”
Miska didn’t re-sign with Arizona this summer because he wasn’t offered a contract by the team after his entry-level deal expired July 1. He said Colorado was the most aggressive team to seek his services.
“This opportunity came right away, when I found out I wasn’t going back to Arizona,” Miska said. “These guys came reaching out ASAP when free agency came. They had a really good opportunity for me and I’m really excited to pursue it.”
Footnotes. Defenseman Conor Timmins, 20, looks healthy and strong after missing all of last season with concussion-like symptoms. Timmins participated in development camp in July and said he has been symptom-free since early this year. … Avs veterans began a captain’s skate at Family Sports Center while the rookies were finishing up on the other sheet. Forward Colin Wilson, who had off-season shoulder surgery and is not yet 100 percent, joined the group but skated on his own. … The rookies were scheduled to catch an afternoon flight to Anaheim, Calif., where they will begin a rookie showcase Saturday against peers from the Vegas Golden Knights. The young Avs also play the on Sunday and the Coyotes on Tuesday.
