Some answers may surprise you.
CENTENNIAL, Colo. — The Colorado Avalanche finished up a three-day development camp for the possible future of the NHL. The question is, who stood out during the camp?
Lucas Wahlin
From the start of camp, Wahlin stood out the most. He may not be the fastest or the strongest, but he has a strong hockey sense and an excellent work ethic. For instance, some players were merely going through the motions. Fire the puck and reset. Fire the puck and reset. Wahlin treated the camp as if it were an actual game, which is what you’re supposed to do. He was always in the correct position, and if there was a rebound, he was on it, scoring some incredible goals that had some in the crowd, including some media members, blown out of their seats.
The way that Wahlin continued to fight for possession in front of the net reminded me of Gabriel Landeskog. He’s not the biggest guy; he’s not going to put up 100 points a year if he makes it to the NHL, or he could. Never say never, but that work ethic and that leadership. The desire to grind it out and fight for your team would be a welcome addition to any club. Wahlin was a stud out there. Over multiple drills, Wahlin found the net three times on four shots. It was due to a combination of good shot placement, great hand-eye coordination, and refusal to surrender.
Cooper Gay
Gay should be a bottom-six forward for the Eagles this fall. He made his debut with the team in early April and scored on his first shot on net. His rink intelligence is what makes him stand out. He’s quick on his feet, keeps his head up, and can maneuver through traffic with his size. Speaking of size, Gay stands at 6’4 and weighs 209 pounds. That physicality will be useful for the Eagles this coming season.
Evan Friesen
Just days before the beginning of camp, Friesen signed an AHL contract with the Eagles for the 2025-26 season. He’s coming off a four-year stint in the WHL, where he collected 146 points (75g/71a) in 240 contests with the Wenatchee Wild and the Winnipeg Ice. The 20-year-old finished this past season with career highs in goals (32), assists (29), and points (61). Friesen deserves some props because the start of the practice was not very good. He misplayed several pucks along the boards and appeared to be a little bit nervous. But in retrospect, who wouldn’t have a small case of jitters after signing your first big deal? He recovered nicely and played well after the fact.
Vincent Desjardins
Desjardins is fresh off his second full-time season in the QMJHL, and he had a banner year, posting 18 goals and 63 assists (81 points) in 64 games. He also posted four points (one goal, three assists) in three playoff games. The stats clearly show that Desjardins is a team-first type of player. But aside from that, he’s a dual threat. He can set up plays, intercept passes, tie guys up, and drive the puck to the slot. His energy at camp was a welcome sight.