Stefan Elliott eyes open position with Colorado Avalanche – NHL offseason Update
Stefan Elliott, a 20-year-old defenseman from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, signed a three-year contract with his original draft team earlier this year in March, but that still was not a guarantee that he would be playing when the regular season began.
With the recent departure of veteran defender, John-Michael Liles, who was traded before the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft to Toronto Maple Leafs, Elliott finally got a chance to make it into the major league for once and for all.
Knowing that there are still a number of other players who could fill in the gap in the same sense, if not better, Stefan Elliot will have to give it his all in order to impress and catch the eye of Colorado’s management.
"It's kind of hard not to (keep up with offseason news)", Elliott. "I follow the NHL and I keep track of all the moves that are going around, especially when they involve the organization that you belong to. When a move involves a defenseman, it kind of
sticks out a little more".
Drafted as the 49th overall pick during round-two of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by Colorado Avalanche, Elliott has still not been given a chance in the major league as of yet. He has spent his previous seasons playing with the minor league team,
Saskatoon Blades, in the Western Hockey League (WHL), a franchise which is all praise for the young defenseman.
“He’s been a tremendous player for our team”, said Blades coach-general manager Lorne Molleken. “He’s been a great role model for our younger players as far as schooling and the work ethic he displays. He’s also a tremendous leader on the ice”.
Looking at Elliott’s past season with Saskatoon Blades, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound player has had great performances with proof of gradual and consistent improvement.
Last season, Elliott managed to contribute an impressive 81 points (31 goals, 50 assists) in 71 games, which led him to be awarded the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy for the leagues’ best defenseman of the year.
This offseason camp will have that opportunity which just did not exist previously, which could mean Elliott might just show up on the ice in October, as the next regular season begins.
Tags: