Rookie forward Sheldon Dries, a former three-year captain at Western Michigan, will make his NHL debut Thursday night when the Avalanche kicks off the season against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center.
Dries, 24, was competing for a spot in the lineup with second-year forward Dominic Toninato, the former Minnesota-Duluth captain. But Toninato was reassigned to the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League after Wednesday’s practice.
The Avs are carrying just 12 available forwards, with Sven Andrighetto and Vladislav Kamenev beginning the year on injured reserve.
Dries’ parents and girlfriend are scheduled to attend Thursday’s game.