Francesco Dell’Elce has climbed fast in the Colorado Avalanche organization, and his rise has a little style to it.
The 21-year-old left defenseman checks in at No. 7 on Mile High Hockey’s Top 25 Under 25, up from No. 16 a year ago. That jump didn’t come because he suddenly piled up gaudier numbers - his 21 points in 36 games for UMass actually fell short of the 24 he posted the season before - but because his game keeps moving in the right direction and he’s getting closer to the pro level.
Dell’Elce, who was taken 77th overall in the third round of the 2025 draft as a re-entry, has spent the last two seasons at the University of Massachusetts and is likely headed back there for 2026-27. At 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, he isn’t the kind of defenseman who wins the eye test by sheer size, but he’s built a profile that stands out in other ways.
One of those is leadership. Dell’Elce is described as vocal, confident and willing to speak up when something needs to be fixed. He also communicates well with teammates and is comfortable offering pointers, which matters for a young player still climbing the ladder.
The bigger reason he’s so appealing to Avalanche fans is the fit. Dell’Elce skates extremely well, with smoothness that shows up right away.
He’s especially effective through the neutral zone and when he’s carrying the puck into the offensive end. He stays calm under pressure, is hard to knock off the puck and keeps finding ways to put pucks toward the net.
That blend lines up neatly with Colorado’s style.
Physically, he may not leap off the page, but the details matter here. Dell’Elce is strong, takes contact well and doesn’t give the puck away easily. His heavy shot only adds to the offensive package.
There’s still work to be done, but the ingredients are there for Dell’Elce to become a real option for the Avalanche down the road. It also wouldn’t be a shock if he signs with Colorado as soon as this spring after his junior year at UMass ends.
And if the goals keep coming, maybe that soundtrack idea won’t be such a joke after all.
In Other News...
Avalanche Fans Suddenly Have A Bigger Reason To Watch Makars Deal
Cale Makar is expected to sign a contract extension with the Avalanche, a move that would only reinforce how central he is to Colorados future. The organization has not made anything official yet, but the anticipation around a new deal has already become part of the bigger picture for a team that has been built around elite talent on the back end.
Connor Hellebuyck has also become part of the conversation after his agent publicly requested a trade from Winnipeg, and that has naturally sparked some speculation about Colorados possible interest. Nothing has been confirmed, and the idea remains conjecture, but it is the kind of twist that can quickly give Avalanche fans another reason to keep an eye on the rumor mill while they wait on Makars deal. [Read more 🡒]
Cale Makar And Avalanche Are Closing In On A Massive Deal
The Avalanche have made keeping Cale Makar a clear priority, and the next step appears to be a long-term extension for the star defenseman as he heads into the final season of his current contract. Makar is due to become an unrestricted free agent next July, and the deal being discussed would not even kick in until the 2027-28 season, a reminder that Colorado is planning far beyond the immediate future.
Joe Sakic said he expects the contract to be wrapped up before training camp, which would remove one of the biggest lingering questions around the roster. If the sides finish the job, Makar could land among the NHL's highest-paid players, a fitting marker for a player who has become central to everything Colorado wants to do moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Fans Still Have One Huge Cale Makar Contract Question
Cale Makars next contract has been the biggest offseason item hanging over the Avalanche, and the wait now appears to be nearing an end. Elliotte Friedman reported that Makar and Colorado have agreed to terms on a new extension, a development that matters not just because of Makars status as one of the leagues premier defensemen, but because the Avalanche had been operating with the understanding that a deal would eventually get done.
Joe Sakic never sounded alarmed about the timing before the regular season, and this is the sort of situation Colorado expected to settle in due course. What remains unresolved is the part fans care about most right now, the length and financial shape of the contract, which is still being kept in the speculative zone until the full agreement is made public. [Read more 🡒]