List of Colorado Avalanche Draft Picks

The Colorado Avalanche is a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado. Competing in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, the Avalanche play their home games at Ball Arena. Established in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques, the franchise was one of the original teams of the World Hockey Association (WHA).

The team came to the NHL in 1979 after the NHL-WHA merger. After being sold to COMSAT Entertainment Group, the Nordiques relocated to Denver in 1995 and changed the name to the Colorado Avalanche. In their inaugural season in Denver, the Avalanche won the Pacific Division and their first Stanley Cup by defeating the Florida Panthers in the 1996 Finals. They further secured Stanley Cup championships in 2001 and 2022.

List of Colorado Avalanche Draft Picks year by year

The Colorado Avalanche's first-round picks from 2013 to 2022 have significantly impacted their success, particularly in their 2022 Stanley Cup win. They picked Nathan MacKinnon 1st overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Cale Makar was selected fourth overall in 2017, and quickly made his impact as a top defenseman, winning multiple awards, including the Calder and Norris Trophies. Bowen Byram, picked in 2019, also contributed significantly, especially during the playoffs.

Other first-round picks had less impact. Tyson Jost, drafted in 2016, was traded to the Minnesota Wild in 2021 after struggling to meet expectations. Martin Kaut, selected in 2018, was traded to the San Jose Sharks in 2023 after failing to secure a regular spot in the Avalanche lineup. The 2020 pick, Justin Barron, was traded to the Montreal Canadiens to acquire Artturi Lehkonen, who played an important role in the Avalanche's 2022 Stanley Cup victory.