Avalanche wants to see Alex Newhook, others “ramp it up” in final week of preseason

The Avalanche reassigned six players Monday earlier taking a comparatively young and inexperienced lineup to Minnesota for a preseason crippled against the Wild.

Avs manager Jared Bednar said much moves volition beryllium made aft the 3rd preseason game, and hinted that 2019 first-round draught prime Alex Newhook, among others, needs to play amended to debar a demotion to the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles.

The Eagles unfastened the preseason connected Saturday.

“Some guys are moving retired of time,” Bednar said aft a greeting skate astatine Family Sports Center.

Newhook, 20, is opening his archetypal afloat nonrecreational play aft joining the Avs successful March pursuing his sophomore twelvemonth astatine Boston College. The 2020 NCAA freshman of the twelvemonth was pegged to measurement successful for free-agent departure Brandon Saad but that occupation could present spell to chap rookie Sampo Ranta oregon 771-game seasoned Artem Anisimov, who is connected a nonrecreational tryout contract.

“He hasn’t stood retired for maine successful a large mode yet,” Bednar said of Newhook. “I deliberation we’ve had immoderate different guys that person played truly well, and that’s good, but he’s a feline that I’ve had a speech with astir starting to ramp it up. Just from rookie camp, done this camp, he’s getting amended now. But he’s had a dilatory start.”

Newhook, the 16th wide enactment successful the 2019 draft, volition play successful his 2nd preseason crippled Monday night. He had an assistance and 2 shots connected Thursday against the Wild astatine Ball Arena but was minus-1. Ranta, who signed with the Avs successful April aft his inferior twelvemonth astatine the University of Minnesota, has been acold much impressive.

Ranta is not successful Monday’s lineup, nor are a bulk of veterans who volition marque the 23-man opening-night roster.

The roster is presently astatine 42 players. Many regulars volition apt play successful Tuesday’s preseason crippled against the Vegas Golden Knights astatine Ball Arena, and astir oregon each of them successful Saturday’s preseason finale astatine location against the Dallas Stars. Colorado besides plays astatine Dallas connected Thursday, which could beryllium the past look for those without guaranteed NHL contracts.

Newhook and Ranta are successful entry-level contracts that let them to beryllium reassigned to the AHL without having to spell done waivers.

“There’s decidedly going to beryllium immoderate pugnacious decisions due to the fact that determination are guys that person stood retired successful the close mode truthful acold successful grooming campy for maine … and determination are different guys that I haven’t seen capable from,” Bednar said. “We’ve had immoderate conversations with immoderate guys to archer them to get going and different guys person been getting pats connected the backmost due to the fact that their show is the mode it is.”

Those reassigned to the Eagles connected Monday were forwards Callahan Burk and Tarun Fizer, defensemen Nate Clurman and Keaton Middleton, and goalie Hunter Miska. Defenseman Jordan Gross was placed connected waivers and volition study to the Eagles if helium clears.

Footnotes. Anisimov, 33, volition play successful his 2nd preseason crippled with the Avs. He had 3 shots successful past week’s crippled astatine Vegas. “This is precise bully squad and they person a winning mentality. I conscionable privation to win,” Anisimov said Monday erstwhile asked wherefore helium chose to motion a PTO with Colorado. … Forward Martin Kaut, the Avs’ 2018 first-round draught pick, aborted his effort to signifier Monday, Bednar said. Kaut crashed into the boards connected Sunday and is day-to-day.