Davies intends to return to the Pioneers, but …
Avalanche development camp invitee Michael Davies fully intends to return to the University of Denver for his senior season.
But that’s also what former teammate Logan O’Connor said a year ago.
O’Connor, who was scheduled to captain the Pioneers as a senior in 2018-19, impressed the Avs at the 2018 development camp and went on to sign a maximum entry-level contract with the NHL team as an undrafted free agent three weeks later. He played five games for the Avs and 64 for their American Hockey League affiliate, the Loveland-based Colorado Eagles.
O’Connor, 22, could become a regular for the Avs next season.
Davies also went undrafted and is testing himself against other NHL prospects this week. A native of Kirkwood, Mo., Davies participated in the St. Louis Blues’ development camp in each of the last two years.
“Every year, I’ve gone in trying to make an impact, maybe turn some heads a little bit,” Davies said from the Avs’ camp at Family Sports Center. “Obviously, I never got drafted. So this a great time to do it. They have all the staff here, all the coaches, so I’m just trying to perform well here, show them what you got. You saw what it did for Logan, so they take note, and I’m definitely trying to come in here and make an impact.”
Davies, 22, has made an impact for DU in each of his three years. As a freshman, he helped the Pioneers win the 2017 NCAA championship — playing a careerhigh 44 games. Davies is a highly skilled defenseman but significantly smaller than most.
At 5-foot-8 and 164 pounds, he’s among the smallest at the Avs’ camp. Fellow camp invitee Jack Ahcan, a defenseman from St. Cloud State, is 5-8, 185 pounds. Forward Tyler Weiss, the Avs’ 2018 fourthround pick who played last season at Nebraska-Omaha, is 5-10, 158 pounds.
Davies appears to be holding his own with the bigger NHL prospects — most of whom are still teenagers.
“It will just give me stuff to take back to DU and work on during the season,” Davies said of his camp with the Avs. “It would have to be a pretty good opportunity for me to leave. I love it at DU and I’m excited about the team we have next year. I wouldn’t leave it unless it was really something I had to consider. I’m excited to go back.”
Footnote.
Camp participants spent Thursday morning at Red Rocks in Morrison before the first of four groups practiced at Family Sports Center at 1 p.m. On Friday, there will be another four-group skate in the morning before the camp moves to Fort Collins for a 3-on-3 game at Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC), beginning at 6 p.m. All skates are free and open to the public.