The Avalanche’s draft record suggests the team isn’t keen on the college hockey development model. Among the 21 players Colorado has chosen in the last three drafts, just three were college or college-bound players and the two who remain in college aren’t expected to be offered contracts. Furthermore, the Avs are among two teams to have not signed a college free agent the last five years.
But Alan Hepple, the Avs’ second-year amateur scouting director, said there is no bias against the NCAA and the team might choose multiple college players at next week’s draft in Buffalo.
“We look at all the leagues the same,” Hepple said in a phone interview.