The Colorado Avalanche hosted the 2025 Rookie Showcase from Sept. 12–14 at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch, Colo. The three-day showcase featured top prospects from the Avs, Utah Mammoth, and Vegas Golden Knights.
Colorado faced Utah on Friday, Sept. 12, winning 5-3, and fell 3-2 to Vegas on Sunday, Sept. 14, in a close game that came down to the final buzzer.
From the start, Colorado’s rookies brought a high compete level and strong defensive habits, creating their offense by winning battles below the goal line and forcing turnovers rather than relying on highlight-reel plays. Against Vegas, the Avs faced a more structured, polished lineup with heavy AHL experience. Colorado responded by taking more quick shots off the draw and from distance, looking for rebounds and redirections between the hashmarks.
A late tying goal was controversially waived off, but the group showed resilience to the very end.
Below are observations and standout performances from the weekend – the entire roster can be found here:
Gavin Brindley
RW | Age 20 | 5’9” 175 lbs. | Fort Meyers, FL | Drafted 2023 (34th overall by CBJ), Acquired via Trade – June 27, 2025
Brindley entered his first Avalanche rookie tournament after being acquired from Columbus this summer, following a 17-point (6g/11a) in his first pro-season with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. A dynamic skater with excellent compete level, he instantly separated himself from the group, earning a spot on the top power play unit in Game 1 and a rest day against Vegas.
“I thought he was one of the best players at all times… He looked very comfortable… This was a good first step being a leader amongst his peers at his age, and I thought he proved that he belongs at main camp with the main roster.”
— Colorado Eagles Head Coach Mark Letestu
His skating was a major weapon and granted him several advantages. In being the first to pucks and the first to come away with them, he gave himself room to dictate play and bend it to his will.
There was an impressive moment where he outsmarted Dmitri Simashev in a neutral zone battle by idling and baiting Simashev closer to him, only to reach his stick across and run away with it.
As an undersized player, Brindley’s smart positioning could be his key to sticking around.
Brindley was prepared for contact in a race for the puck against 6’5” Maveric Lamoureux – he used his speed to get there first, took a low, wide stance and angled himself to brace for contact allowing him to stay with the puck and escape with it.
He was also adept at skating through traffic, getting in and out of tight spots and creating new paths. Not shying away from the dangerous areas, he retrieved pucks in the corner with bodies stacked against him – sometimes he was muscled off, but more often he was able to leverage his speed to get in and out of battles by using the power he gained pushing off on the first stride.
He was an effective zone entry machine, finding ways around his opponents with impressive edgework and agility.
His high-motor was exactly as advertised – what surprised me was his tenacity. He’s a fearless honey badger on the ice who won’t back down from the fight. He’ll be a fun story line to follow in main camp. After facing some adversity in his first pro-season, he’s due for a big step forward.
Christian Humphreys
C | Age 19 | 5’11” 170 lbs. | Pittsburgh, PA | Drafted 2024 – Round 7 (215th overall)
Humphreys split last season between the University of Michigan and Kitchener Rangers (OHL), putting up 33 points (11g/22a) in 28 OHL games. The seventh-round pick made his rookie showcase debut.
He scored the game winner in Game 1 after eating several cross-checks in the neutral zone, he went far-side to complete Colorado’s comeback effort late in the third period. Though he ran into penalty trouble earlier in the contest, you could tell that he’s a “heart on his sleeve” type of player that leaves it all on the ice. He played with palpable energy and passion.
In contrast, he showed calm under net-front duress getting his stick in the rubble to retrieve and clear pucks away. Some young players are quick to get rid of the puck in that situation, but he showed poise in ensuring he picked the safest option to secure possession or make the clear.
Against Vegas, he was sprung for the breakaway and wristed it past Cameron Whitehead to put the Avs on the board. I don’t want to underestimate the necessary speed and quality shot selection to pull this off. Later in the game, another strong defensive play in the d-zone forced a turnover and Humphreys – applying pressure – capitalized on it with another rush chance. He was at the forefront of high-danger chances all weekend.
At just 19-years-old, a big development year awaits him in the OHL. Going back to his past development camps – he has incredible puck skill and confidence. Among a rookie tournament roster of blue collar try-hard types, Humphreys offers something different. He’s bold, flashy, and offensively gifted. He knows he has to round out his 200-foot game and find the right balance of playing with discipline while careful not to handcuff his creativity because it’s extremely fun to watch.
Sean Behrens
D | Age 22 | 5’10” 180 lbs. | Barrington, IL | Drafted 2021 – Round 2 (61st overall)
After a strong training camp last year, Behrens was poised to make some noise in his first pro-season up with the Colorado Eagles, but a fluke injury in practice tore his ACL and sidelined him for the season.
Still among one of Colorado’s best prospects on the backend (shoutout to Mikhail Gulyayev), now is his time to shine – especially with reports of an undisclosed injury to Sam Girard.
At least to start the year, the Avs might have an opening for a left-handed defenseman who can skate the puck, walk the blueline, and kill penalties, and that is Sean Behrens.
Compared to last year’s tournament, he managed to take another step despite missing time. His time away from hockey didn’t hinder him physically and he looked to be 100%. He clearly wasn’t holding anything back.
Equally important, he showed growth: making better reads in his own end and eliminating mistakes. Though he didn’t get to draw in games last year, he still absorbed a lot of information. He’s always been a highly-intelligent player, but it was clear that his processing is better adjusted to the advanced pace of play at this level. This will be crucial to his success because his path to defending effectively as an undersized defenseman will require alternatives: a good stick, aggressive gap control. Though he can’t tornade like Girard, he is a skilled skater with a lot of speed.
He quarterbacked the top power play, ate big minutes on the kill, and was leaned on in critical moments late in games which demonstrated trust.
He showed confidence in transition with a nice play in Game 2 to skate the puck in on entry and find a cross-slot seam to Cooper Gay opposite him despite Vegas’ layered coverage.
Notably, he scored the tying goal in Game 1 off a great play from Brindley sticking with the puck in the corner allowed him to pick it up in the circle and wrist it in.
Behrens is another I’m keeping an eye on closely in camp.
Nikita Prishchepov
C | Age 21 | 6’1” 194 lbs. | Orenburg, Russia | Drafted 2024 – Round 7 (217th overall)
Prishchepov made the jump to the pro-level last season, playing 51 games for the Colorado Eagles and adding 10 NHL games with the Avalanche. He recorded 23 points (9g/14a) at the AHL level.
He played a bottom-six role in the Calder Cup playoffs and showed incredibly well on a line with Ivan Ivan. A strong forecheck forced turnovers and changed momentum in a series-clinching game against the San Jose Barracuda. He was overwhelming and wouldn’t allow San Jose to exit their own end.
In the tournament this weekend, Prischepov had some flash, obviously getting the empty net goal to seal Game 1, but attempting a spin-around wrister from the slot early in the game as well.
But it wasn’t his offensive instinct that impressed so much as his obvious physicality. He played with even more of an edge. It stood out in the playoffs last year in bursts, but if this is the level he brings every single game from now on – he’s an intriguing power forward in the making.
He’s clearly strong and difficult to contain at times, but sometimes he struggles to transition with the puck if a backchecker gets in his path. I’d like to see him power through the opposition up ice the same way he is a stalwart at the offensive blueline when he’s hungry to regain entry and attack.
It was clear to me that he was a leader among his peers too. They leaned on him to drive play and command the top unit on the man-advantage, and he took these responsibilities seriously.
Hank Kempf
D | Age 23 | 6’2” 190 lbs. | Wilmette, IL | Acquired via Trade – March 1, 2025 (NY Rangers)
Kempf wrapped up his NCAA career at Cornell University and played four games for the Colorado Eagles late last season. He is looking to carve out a regular role in the AHL blueline rotation. He had an assist in his regular season debut and his playoff debut.
This weekend, he was really well-rounded and served as a leader in the tournament as the captain. He was strong on the kill and the most efficient on the breakout – he kept things simple: angled outlets to expectant receivers.
Plus he was quick to fully commit to the block, sliding to the ice and springing back up into play with ease.
His slap shot from the halfwall brought the Avs within one goal in Game 2 against Vegas. After struggling to create in the offensive zone as a team, he recognized the need to step into the play following a broken play across the ice. The original shooter failed on the first attempt but the Avs still controlled possession. They reset, regrouped, and Kempf activated.
Alex Gagne
D | Age 23 | 6’5” 225 lbs. | Bedford, NH | Signed as College FA – August 18, 2025
Gagne signed with Colorado following four seasons at the University of New Hampshire, where he totaled 17 points (4g/13a) in 35 games in his senior year.
This past season, Gagne led the team in blocks (62) for the third consecutive year and he ranked fourth in Hockey East. He led UNH defensemen in goals (four), assists (13) and points (17). Gagne ranked first in the nation in defensive-zone puck battle wins, second in D-zone stick checks, third in D-zone denials and seventh in D-zone blocked passes. Gagne concluded his career with seven goals, 41 assists and 48 points while playing in 139 games.
The left-handed defenseman is billed as a defensive-defenseman and he delivered in ways, but it is evident that there was a skill and pace adjustment to account for at this level.
At 6’5”, his size and physicality was of extreme interest because he breaks from a mold of puck moving defensemen that the Avs have targeted in the past. He didn’t use his size as much as I expected, but it was undeniable that it served him. He may not have been throwing the body around every shift, but he was more physical from one game to the next. Gagne was not easily taken down and strong on his skates.
It seemed he was assessing what level of physicality was appropriate at this level.
His handling was limited at times, he attempted to protect the puck along the wall in the o-zone and over-stick-handled himself into some trouble in an effort to find a way out. He ultimately lost possession.
But, he had a good defensive stick which tracks with his defending metrics from college. In a one-on-one drill during practice, both 6’5”, Cooper Gay tried to skate the puck down the slot and was left with no options moving forward on the attack between Gagne’s stick and size denying him.
In addition to big reps on the penalty kill, he was trusted to defend a three-on-four kill and an empty net late in the game in Game 2. Vegas did not score on either.
Maxmilian Curran
C/W | Age 19 | 6’3” 179 lbs. | Praha, Czechia | Drafted 2024 – Round 5 (161st overall)
Curran was one of Colorado’s two fifth-round picks in the 2024 NHL Draft and is coming off a breakout season with Tri-City in the WHL, where he posted 74 points (22g/52a) in 65 games playing in a second line role on the wing. In June, the Tri-City Americans dealt Curran to the Edmonton Oil Kings in exchange for multiple draft picks.
The mechanics of his skating were a bit clunky – which is kind of to be expected for a skater with a 6’3” frame. He lacked some footspeed and mobility: can he push off with more power to get around his defender leveraging his size and strength?
His skating poses a potential vulnerability because it keeps him to the perimeter which reduces his offensive options even though he was great at finding seams from the outside.
Keeping in mind he’s only 19-years-old, I can definitely see why Avs scouting like him. He’s versatile and ego-less, eager to set up his teammates. He’s a great passer and packs a powerful shot which leads to the potential challenge of balancing when to find the seam and when to take the shot since he presents a threat with both.
I want to further highlight his passing ability. Between what he did with Humphreys on a line in Game 1 to find the cross-slot seam multiple times, he had a nice under the stick pass to Behrens at the point on the power play in Game 2 as well. Vegas was aggressively defending their lanes making it difficult for the Avs to cycle, so this was a particularly nice play.
Curran was promoted to the top power play unit in Brindley’s absence in Game 2.
Also, he dropped the gloves.
Cooper Gay
RW | Age 23 | 6’5” 223 lbs. | Edina, MN | Signed as College FA – March 26, 2025
Gay signed with Colorado after a strong senior season at the University of St. Thomas, where he scored 19 goals and 30 points in 35 games. He joined the Colorado Eagles late in the year, appearing in two games and recording a goal in his AHL debut.
I want to see Gay refine the puck skill. It limits him. His strength allows him to win possession, but his handling doesn’t ensure he can keep it.
When he’s battling for the puck along the wall and forcefully shoving his stick into the mix, there’s a lot of power behind it, but he doesn’t come away with the puck because he was already pushing off as if he came away with it – thinking less about where he put his stick and more so about what he planned to do next if he got it.
But most excitingly, Gay brought physicality, including a highlight hit that sent Utah’s Gabe Smith into the bench. His strength and size are clear assets.
Honorable mentions:
Chase Bradley
LW | Age 23 | 5’11” 181 lbs | St. Louis, MO | Signed as College FA – July 2, 2024
Bradley was a standout on the penalty kill, showing a strong stick and good reads to disrupt plays. He was reliable defensively and provided energy.
Saige Weinstein
D | Age 20 | 6’1” 185 lbs | Edmonton, AB | Signed as FA – Oct. 6, 2023
Weinstein had an up-and-down weekend. He occasionally overcomplicated breakouts with drop passes or holding onto the puck too long, leading to failed exits. However, he did a good job getting his stick in lanes and breaking up rushes.
Asan Sarkenov
RW | Age 19 | 6’4” 203 lbs. | Astana, Kazakhstan | Rookie Camp Invite
Sarkenov played for the Spokane Chiefs (WHL) last season, tallying 27 points (10g/17a) in 52 games. He entered the tournament as a camp invite and made the most of his opportunity.
The 6’4” WHL forward had two goals in Game 1 and created multiple turnovers that led to scoring chances, including a breakaway goal by Humphreys in Game 2. He was relentless in hounding opponents and taking advantage of mistakes.
Rilen Kovacevic
RW | Age 20 | 5’11” 181 lbs. | Kelowna, BC | AHL Contract
Kovacevic split last season between Moose Jaw and Prince Albert in the WHL, where he recorded 59 points (26g/33a) across 60 games. He was a regular in the Avalanche lineup throughout the weekend, including top power play time.
He brought consistent physical play, finishing his checks and playing with good discipline.
