Pressure mounts as Avalanche top prospect enters pivotal 2025-26 season
Photo credit: Richard T Gagnon / Mile High Sticking
With expectations higher than ever, Colorado Avalanche defensive prospect Sean Behrens is heading into the 2025-26 season facing immense pressure to prove himself, making this year a potentially defining moment in his career.
Behrens hasn't had the smoothest transition since turning pro with the Colorado Eagles, and with each passing season, the sense is growing that the clock may be ticking for him to prove he belongs.
Sean Behrens enters crucial make-or-break season.
Graham Tiedtke from Mile High Sticking writes that the Avalanche are in dire need of a boost from their draft class in the near future.
With Calum Ritchie, once their top prospect, now traded away, and recent selections still developing elsewhere, the spotlight shifts to Behrens. For the young defenseman, time may be running out to prove he can become a long-term piece of Colorado's future.
"Behrens was the Avalanche's second-round pick from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Though he was ranked as the #5 player under 25 years old on Mile High Hockey's «Top 25 under 25» list, he suffered a torn ACL last season and was limited to one game in 2023-24, recording a single assist." -Tiedtke
During his three seasons at the University of Denver, Behrens appeared in 112 games, tallying 10 goals and 71 assists. The main concern now is whether he can translate that success to the professional level, be it the NHL or even the AHL.
He's significantly behind in game experience and adjusting to the speed of the pro game, which only accelerates in the NHL. Behrens remains under contract for the next two seasons.
"Even as a defenseman, the Avalanche likely will want to see an uptick in his goal rate. His career-high is just four, as he reached that total once at the University of Denver and once on the U.S. National Development team.
However, if scoring goals is strictly never going to be part of his game, he will have to make up for that with physical play. If he's able to do that, perhaps he might take the spot of Keaton Middleton, who is known as a physical presence." -Tiedtke
However, if scoring goals is strictly never going to be part of his game, he will have to make up for that with physical play. If he's able to do that, perhaps he might take the spot of Keaton Middleton, who is known as a physical presence." -Tiedtke
Some Eagles players are likely stuck in the AHL for 2025-26, and Behrens has to hope he's not one of them. As a former second-round pick, the 22-year-old defenseman faces high expectations and must prove he can earn NHL minutes.
If he can't deliver, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Avalanche move him for a player they believe better fits their system.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 2 | 15 ANSWERS Pressure mounts as Avalanche top prospect enters pivotal 2025-26 season Does Avalanche prospect Sean Behrens have a career in the NHL? | ||
| yes | 10 | 66.7 % |
| no | 5 | 33.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
