Warsofsky eyes spot on roster

David Warsofsky enjoyed the ride but didn’t get a ring.

Warsofsky, the Avalanche prospect who played in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization last season, was at every practice, every team meeting, and every other mandatory event in the Pens’ run to winning the Stanley Cup in June. The 5-foot-8 defenseman played just nine regular-season games but was among Pittsburgh’s playoff “black aces” — the best of what the team had from its minor-league affiliate in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Because he didn’t play the minimum 41 regular-season games or one game in the Stanley Cup Final, Warsofky’s name was not engraved on the Cup and he did not order a ring.

But he’s now in position to make the Avalanche’s opening-night roster and is expected to play in Thursday’s second preseason game against the Dallas Stars at the Pepsi Center.

His journey with the Penguins has prepared him to play for the Avs.

“I got called up at the beginning of the year and then a little more in the middle,” Warsofsky, who had a terrific 201617 season for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, said of his time in Pittburgh. “Things really didn’t work out toward the end of the season. But it was good to go down to Wilkes-Barre and kind of get my confidence back, and that helped put me in the position I am today.”

Warsofsky, 27, signed with the Avalanche as a free agent July 1. The former Boston University Terrier from Marshfield, Mass., is among six or seven candidates to win three or four jobs on Colorado’s blue line. Warsofsky, who had 16 goals and 47 points in 58 AHL games last season, is perhaps the favorite to solidify a job along with Erik Johnson, Nikita Zadorov, Tyson Barrie and Mark Barbario.

Warsofsky likes his chances. He’s competing for a spot with fellow veteran Jared Cowen, 26, who is on a professional tryout contract, and a handful of rookies. Warsofsky is the smallest of the bunch, but probably the quickest.

“When you’re in position like I am, and you can make break-out passes and get the puck to the open forwards, good things are going to happen,” Warsofsky said.