The Colorado Avalanche’s Rookie Camp roster is out, and three names jump off the page for different reasons: Tobias Tvrznik, Beckett Hamilton and Gustav Stjernberg.
Friday’s announcement gives fans their first real look at a group that should offer a clean glimpse at what the organization has coming through the pipeline. Some of the names are expected.
A few others feel a little more intriguing. That’s where these three come in.
Tvrznik is the goalie worth circling first. Colorado took the 19-year-old in the fourth round of this year’s draft, and at 6’4”, he brings the kind of frame that always gets attention in net. The Avalanche don’t have a particularly deep goaltending prospect pool, with Ilya Nabokov standing out as the clear headliner, but Tvrznik could become part of that conversation if he keeps trending the right way.
Last season, the Czech netminder appeared in 39 WHL games. The numbers weren’t eye-popping, but he’ll have another chance to show more this season at Ohio State. A strong camp would only help his case as a possible future option in goal for Colorado.
Hamilton is another draft pick worth watching. The Avalanche grabbed him in the third round, 74th overall, and while he’s not anywhere near NHL-ready, there’s clearly something the organization likes. He’s 5’11” and 170 pounds, but the profile is the kind coaches usually appreciate: a hardworking forward who competes and does the dirty work.
He spent last season in the WHL and could return there for one more year as an overager. If not, the 18-year-old could make a push for a spot with the Colorado Eagles.
Then there’s Stjernberg, who may have the best chance to turn heads. The Avalanche signed the 23-year-old college free agent in the spring, and he wasted little time making an impression with the Eagles, putting up a goal and three points in 11 games.
At 6’4” and 209 pounds, the blueliner has the size to fit right in if the opportunity opens up. He’s under a two-year entry-level contract and looks like the sort of player who could work his way into the mix for call-ups this season. If injuries hit before Opening Night, Stjernberg could even find himself on the roster.
For a camp built around evaluation, these are the three names that stand out most. Tvrznik has the upside in goal, Hamilton brings the draft pedigree and work ethic, and Stjernberg has the frame and the early professional experience to make things interesting fast.
In Other News...
Avalanche Have A Costly Discipline Problem Fans Cant Ignore
The Avalanches edge last season came with a pricey downside. A study by Casino.org found Colorado paid $369,840 to players for time spent in the penalty box, the second-highest total in the league, after the club piled up 372.6 shorthanded minutes across 221 infractions.
What makes the bill sting even more is that the penalty kill was still one of the teams strengths, with Colorado allowing just 17 power play goals, a number that landed in the bottom third of the league. So the issue was not only the damage opponents could do on the man advantage, but the simple cost of constantly giving them the chance. [Read more 🡒]
Cale Makar Gives Avalanche Fans A Reason To Worry Before Opening Night
Cale Makar was on the ice by himself for about 30 minutes with the Avalanche skills coach at a recent practice, but he did not take part in the main group session. He then missed the next days skate, which immediately put his status on the radar as Colorado moves closer to opening night.
There has been no official word confirming an injury, and the uncertainty has only fueled questions about whether this is a minor issue or simply a careful ramp-up after his contract extension. For a team built around Makars presence at full speed, even a brief absence is enough to make fans pay close attention. [Read more 🡒]
Ilya Nabokov Now Carries A Huge Avalanche Future Question
Colorados prospect picture is still being sorted out heading into the 2026-27 season, and Ilya Nabokov sits right at the center of it. The 23-year-old goalie was ranked No. 1 in Mile High Hockeys list of the top 25 Avalanche prospects under 25 as of Sept. 1, 2026, a nod to both his track record and the organizations belief that he can become a major piece down the line. For now, the expectation is that hell spend the season with the Colorado Eagles, giving the Avalanche a closer look at how his game translates from the KHL to North American ice.
What makes Nabokov so intriguing is also what makes his path so uncertain. Goaltenders can look promising on paper and still need time to adjust to the smaller rink, the pace, and the different demands that come with life in this part of the game. Colorado clearly sees enough there to place him at the top of its prospect rankings, but the real question is how quickly he can turn that upside into something usable for the Avalanche when the stakes get much higher. [Read more 🡒]