Colorado Avalanche Set for 2026 Rookie Faceoff with 25-Player Roster
(Denver, CO = Won Jeong) The Colorado Avalanche will get an early look at the organization’s young talent when they take part in the 2026 Rookie Faceoff in San Jose, California, from Sept. 12-15.
Hosted by the San Jose Sharks organization, the tournament will feature prospects from six NHL clubs: the Avalanche, Anaheim Ducks, Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.
Seven games are scheduled during the showcase, with Colorado set to play twice.
The Avalanche will open their tournament against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. MT. Colorado will return to the ice the following day to face the Vegas Golden Knights at 2 p.m. MT. Both Avalanche games will be played at Tech CU Arena.
Colorado announced a 25-player Rookie Camp roster for the tournament, consisting of 13 forwards, eight defensemen and four goaltenders.
The goaltending group features Ilya Nabokov (30), Nikita Novosyolov (31), Alexandre Raymond (35) and Tobias Tvrznik (60).
The eight defensemen are Sean Behrens (2), Alex Gagne (28), Gustav Stjernberg (44), Linus Funck (59), Ondrej Ruml (61), Hank Kempf (64), Connor Kelley (73) and Saige Weinstein (89).
Colorado’s group of 13 forwards includes Francesco Arcuri (10), T.J. Hughes (13), Matt DiMarsico (14), Taylor Makar (16), Maxim Barbashev (48), Grant Ahcan (55), Cooper Gay (58), Beckett Hamilton (72), Shawn Carrier (76), Kalder Varga (79), Rilen Kovacevic (83), Nikita Prishchepov (85) and Jake Chiasson (90).
Among the players to watch are goaltender Ilya Nabokov and defenseman Sean Behrens.
Nabokov, selected by Colorado with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft, spent last season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL. He appeared in 38 games, posting a 22-7-5 record with a 2.74 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. Following the conclusion of his KHL season, Nabokov joined the AHL’s Colorado Eagles as he began his transition to the North American game.
Behrens, a second-round pick (61st overall) by Colorado in the 2021 NHL Draft, is another prospect worth watching. After missing the entire 2024-25 season because of a knee injury, the defenseman returned to action last season and recorded five goals and 18 assists for 23 points in 55 games with the Colorado Eagles.
Center Beckett Hamilton, selected 74th overall by the Avalanche in the 2026 NHL Draft, will also be among the younger prospects to watch. Hamilton recorded 24 goals and 38 assists for 62 points in 67 games with Red Deer of the WHL last season, leading the team in scoring.
For Colorado, the Rookie Faceoff represents more than an early-season prospect showcase. It provides the organization with an opportunity to evaluate the development of its young players in game situations before training camp and to identify prospects who could eventually compete for roles at the NHL and AHL levels.
Attention will be particularly focused on players such as Nabokov and Behrens, who are moving closer to NHL consideration, as well as Prishchepov, Gagne and other prospects who have already gained professional experience.
2026 Rookie Faceoff Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 12
Colorado vs. Anaheim — 1 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. MT
Utah vs. Vegas — 3 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. MT
Los Angeles vs. San Jose — 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT
Sunday, Sept. 13
Vegas vs. Colorado — 1 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. MT
Anaheim vs. Los Angeles — 3 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. MT
San Jose vs. Utah — 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT
Tuesday, Sept. 15
Utah vs. Los Angeles — 1 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. MT
Colorado will conclude its Rookie Faceoff schedule after playing on back-to-back days against Anaheim and Vegas.
