NHL Prospect Watch – Colorado Avalanche

In the lead-up to the 2023-24 NHL season, we’re taking a look at the current and former WHL talent in each NHL Club’s prospect pool. In this 32-part series, we’ll highlight the WHL players signed to an NHL contract or recently drafted, 25 years of age or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played. Join us for a brand-new season of NHL Prospect Watch!

We continue with the prospect pool of the Colorado Avalanche.

Gianni Fairbrother
Former Everett Silvertips captain Gianni Fairbrother joins the Colorado Avalanche organization after being acquired via trade from the Montreal Canadiens this past June. Fairbrother, from Vancouver, B.C., missed the entire 2022-23 season due to injury, and gets an opportunity for a fresh start in the Rockies after appearing in only 25 regular season games with AHL Laval in 2021-22, during which he scored once and added six assists. Originally a third-round pick by Montreal in the 2019 NHL Draft, Fairbrother patrolled the blue line for the Silvertips for four full seaasons, topping out with 10 goals and 36 points during the 2018-19 campaign. He was also part of the Everett squad that reached the WHL Championship Series in 2018.

TRADE: We have acquired a first-round selection (31st overall, previously acquired) and a second-round pick (37th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, along with defenseman Gianni Fairbrother, from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Alex Newhook.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/5upTYZ9MMZ

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 27, 2023

Jeremy Hanzel
Defenceman Jeremy Hanzel capped off a WHL Championship campaign by being selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. Hanzel, from Coquitlam, B.C., helped the Seattle Thunderbirds claim the Club’s second WHL title in franchise history thanks to a career year, finishing second among Thunderbirds defensive scoring leaders during the regular season with 13 goals and 48 points. Hanzel led the League with a +70 rating last season, then led Seattle’s blue line in scoring during the post-season with 22 points (5G-17A). The 20-year-old has skated in over 195 regular season and playoff games with the Thunderbirds since being signed in 2020, totalling 29 goals and 124 points.

The Avalanche select Jeremy Hanzel with the 187th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/ngFXQLaXlR

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 29, 2023

Trent Miner
Former Vancouver Giants netminder Trent Miner embarks on his third season of professional hockey this fall after being selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Draft. Miner, who calls Souris, Man. home, spent the majority of the 2022-23 season with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies, with whom he posted a 17-15-3 record, to go along with three shutouts and a .910 save percentage. Miner’s save percentage climbed to .926 over his six post-season starts; he also appeared in one AHL contest in 2022-23 with the Colorado Eagles. As a Giant, Miner put up 24 wins and a 1.98 goals against average in his first full WHL season, helping Vancouver the 2019 WHL Championship Series in the process. He was named the B.C. Division Goaltender of the Year in 2021.

"WHAT A STOP BY TRENT MINER!"

GRIZZ FANS: If you haven't heard, our netminder has been nominated for Save of the Year!

Go give him your vote! ➡️ https://t.co/LJL2ihyzAF pic.twitter.com/dmNGNZTft0

— Utah Grizzlies (@UtahGrizzlies) June 2, 2023