Based on needs, the Avalanche probably will select a defenseman with the No. 10 pick at the NHL draft June 26-27. But this pick won't be Connor McDavid, and patience will be required.
Big-league contribution from the No. 10 NHL pick — particularly a defenseman — probably will take one to three years, perhaps after "generational" draftee McDavid reaches 100 NHL goals for the draft lottery-winning Edmonton Oilers.
So the Avs' immediate needs might differ from their foreseeable-future desires. But in every other way — including filling a void — Colorado is expected to select the second, third or fourth top draft- eligible defenseman: Ivan Provorov, Zachary Werenski or Jakub Zboril.