Elite Prospects 2025 NHL Prospect Pool Rankings: No. 26-ranked Colorado Avalanche

Dropping nine spots in this year's ranking are the Colorado Avalanche. 

That fall is, primarily, from the Calum Ritchie trade brought in Brock Nelson. The Will Zellers also impacted things, as did a couple of graduations and some continued difficulties cultivating talent in the AHL. 

Despite breaking the 100-point barrier, the Avalanche feel like a team in between. They can't rebuild because they have two of the NHL's foremost superstars. As a team, they're dynamic and exciting to watch. But they lack the support to take them back to the championship level. 

The Avs have a clear identity – speed, non-stop movement, and playmaking – and they trade around that, for the most part. As such, they may have a couple of pieces who could slide in and make a major impact, starting with Mikhail Gulyayev