Eurolanche

Rutkowski and Silas left organization

Colorado Avalanche has decided to not give a chance to young junior players. Defensemen Troy Rutkowski (on the left) and Stephen Silas were drafted in 2010. They did not sign the entry level contract with the Avs, but they were a part of the organization for the next two years. These automatic rights of the team have expired last week. Players have not got offers for the classic contracts.

Rutkowski was drafted in the 5^th round. He gained 40 points in the each of his last three seasons. He played for Portland Winterhawks and managed to get to WHL´s final series for the second time in a row. Silas, like Troy, have finished the 4 year era in the junior hockey league. He played in the OHL for Bellevile Bulls. He could not get 40^th point milestone in the last two seasons. Colorado drafted him from the fourth round.

Both of the players are going through the same scenario – any team could draft them on the coming draft. It is not likely will happen. Then they will become free agents.

Gabriel Landeskog and Duncan Siemens are only players from the 2011 draft who got entry level contracts. Gerret Meurs, Dillon Donnelly, Joachim Nermark and Gabriel Beaupre did not get. Two year rights on these players will expire in June 2013.