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2011 NHL Draft: Avalanche Select Six Players, Including Gabriel Landeskog, Duncan Siemens In The 1st Round

The Avalanche gained their highest draft pick since moving to Colorado.

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17 Total Updates since April 12, 2011
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2011 NHL Draft: Avalanche Draft Picks Recap, Rounds 4-7

After selecting twice in the first round of the 2011 NHL Draft, the Colorado Avalanche were able to get a late start for the second day. Their second round selection went to the St, Louis Blues as part of the Erik Johnson trade. The Avalanche traded their third round selection this year's draft during the 2010 to the New York Islanders for the fourth round selection that became defenseman prospect Stephan Silas.

4th Round: The Avalanche selected 6-foot-1, 185-pound Swedish forward Joachim Nermark. One of the breakout players in the summer Ivan Hlinka tournament, Nermark is seen as a plus skater with good vision. His overall offensive game needs some development time, but a chance to be a solid offensive contributor at the NHL level. 

5th Round: The Avalanche selected 5-foot-10, 160-pound Canadian center Garrett Meurs of the OHL Plymouth Whalers. Meurs is a hard working forward that could see time on the third or four lines once he develops more of an offensive game. His goalscoring ability may be limited, but Meurs should be solid both ways with the potential to be an average playmaker.

6th Round: The Avalanche selected 6-foot-2, 195-pound Canadian Gabriel Beaupre, alternate captain of the QMJHL Val-d'Or Foreurs. Beaupre is another physical defenseman, and continues the trend of selecting size and physicality over long term upside.

7th Round: The Avalanche selected 6-foot-2, 195-pound defenseman American Dillon Donnelly of the QMJHL Shawinigan Cataractes. As one of the youngest players in this draft, Donnelly is early in his development curve and could potentially grow into a mid round type talent. In the seventh round of the draft, a no-risk pick like this isn't very surprising. If Donnelly grows into a fringe NHL player, then it becomes a victory. If he fails to develop his puck awareness, the front office isn't going to bemoan a wasted selection.

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2011 NHL Draft: Colorado Avalanche Select Defenseman Duncan Siemens 11th Overall

With the eleventh pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, the Colorado Avalanche select defenseman Duncan Siemens from the Western Hockey League. Siemens is a very physical defender, in the mold of former Devil Scott Stevens. The Avalanche took Siemens over Ryan Murphy, who many thought would be gone many picks ago. 

From Hockey Prospectus:

The physically-gifted Duncan Siemens is one of the youngest prospects in the 2011 draft class, just being a few days removed from being a 2012 candidate. He's a pro-level skater who moves at an above-average level for a big defender. His mobility is very notable which lets him jump up into the offensive zone and recover very easily. He measures in at around 6'3", 195 lbs. and uses every inch of that frame regularly when he's on the ice, ravishing in the physical element of the game and making opponents wary of him when the puck gets along the sideboards. The frame is still a little thin and he needs to fill out, and despite how much he engages in the physical element he still loses more battles than he should, but once he bulks up in the gym that problem should sort itself out. Duncan's puck skills are fringe and while he does try to hold onto the puck he looks awkward while doing so. His passing ability is decent and he will be able to execute breakouts fine at the next level. His offense at the WHL came mainly from his hard slapper and what he was able to generate off his skating ability on the rush, however I'm not very confident he's going to put up counting numbers in the NHL because of his lack of ability with the puck.
From here on out we will be recapping the selections in groups. 
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2011 NHL Draft: Colorado Avalanche Select Winger Gabriel Landeskog 2nd Overall

With the second pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, the Colorado Avalanche have selected winger Gabriel Landeskog. 

Landeskog is a pure physical specimen. A completely developed forward on Draft Day, Landeskog should immediately slide right into an NHL roster on Opening Night. Though he doesn't have the pure potential of the other players in this draft, scouts are very high on Landeskog's intangibles. He should be able to score 25-30 goals a season, but his leadership qualities and physical presence on the ice make him a top draft selection.

This is a draft move for immediate help. Landeskog doesn't have the ceiling of Jonathan Huberdeau or Sean Couturier, but he is developed right now. His selection suggests that the Avalanche front office believe that their team is built to compete this year, as he fills one of top needs on the team at left wing. He gives a strong, physical presence to pair with Paul Stastny or Matt Duchene, and is the type of player that former Avalanche Chris Stewart showed glimpses of becoming -- before he was traded to St. Louis. In a draft of high ceiling prospects, Colorado selected the one player that can give them immediate help.

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