World News – CA – Colorado Avalanche selects Justin Barron with 25th overall pick

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sWith the 25th pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, the Colorado Avalanche selected defenseman Justin Barron from the Halifax Mooseheads to the QMJHL

Once considered one of the top 5 potential picks, Barron has seen his draft season distracted by blood clot issues that have forced him to undergo two surgeries in the past six months

Barron is a great defenseman who skates very well and has a great first pass He likes to carry the puck through the neutral zone and is ready to lead the race when he puts the puck on his stick That said, Scouts have worries about his decision making He doesn’t show the kind of instincts with the puck you want from a high end puck pitcher

He has a good shot from the point but will never be mistaken for an offensive defender

On the defensive end of the puck, he’s one of the best in the draft He’s very good at turning off forwards at the blue line and he uses an active stick to stop plays in goal There are few players of his class who defend themselves better face to face against puck carriers

Elite Prospects: # 70Future Considerations: # 38Hockey Prospect: # 46McKeen’s Hockey: # 54McKenzie / TSN: # 25NHL Central Scouting: # 16 (North American skaters)

A late birthday, Barron is further along in his development than the rest of the class He is only one season away from moving into AHL where he will look to improve on the mental side of his game before making the jump in the NHL

A low-floor pick, Barron doesn’t plan to be a top pairing defender, but he could turn into a really good closed second pair guy to play behind Cale Makar

This is the third time in the past four years that the Avalanche have used their first round pick against a defenseman

The Avalanche adds another Nova Scotian as Barron joins Nathan MacKinnon, Ryan Graves, Shane Bowers and Matthew Stienburg in the organization

In fact, Barron grew up playing with Stienburg who was a 3rd round pick for the Avalanche a year ago.

Q&A with hope #GoAvsGo Matt Stienburg and now I really want Colorado to draft Justin Barron (not that they need another mobile and offensive defenseman though) Twittercom / p8PQlRhtJT

Meet new Avalanche Justin Barron (second from left) and 2019 Avalanche draft pick Matthew Stienburg (second from right) playing together for the @HfxMacs U18 team in 2017 picTwittercom / 5E6xy9c51t

Colorado Avalanche, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, defenseman, 2020 NHL Draft, Halifax Mooseheads