Compared to years past, the Colorado Avalanche haven’t needed to call up tons of players from the Colorado Eagles to fill gaps and holes in the lineup. But it doesn’t mean there have not been call-ups with various injuries to Valeri Nichushkin, Gavin Brindley, and others.

Five players experienced NHL gameplay after beginning their season in the AHL. Here’s how each has fared in their many appearances in burgundy and blue.

Tristen Nielsen

The Avalanche signed Nielsen soon after the season started. His impressive start in Loveland backed it up, as he has 15 points in 18 games.

The 25-year-old forward has only played four games with the big club, notching his first NHL point on a goal scored by Cale Makar against the Chicago Blackhawks back on November 23. However, that was his last NHL game up to this point.

The Canadian has been a pleasant surprise and addition to the organization. Though not a star yet, he’ll try harder to earn a regular NHL role.

Taylor Makar

For big-name players, Makar fits the description. Younger brother of Cale, Taylor Makar had a call-up and made his NHL debut on the road against the San Jose Sharks at the beginning of November.


He played in two games since then, going pointless in all three with three shots on net. All three shots came on 12 shifts against the Buffalo Sabres. He hasn’t been utilized much, averaging only 5:33 in ice time a night.

For the Eagles, he’s only got six points made up of three goals and assists. While it’s cool to see him play with his brother for the first time, it’s been an uneventful start to his NHL career, and he might be falling down the pecking order.

Ivan Ivan

Ivan Ivan has turned into a fan favorite in both Denver and Loveland. While he featured in 40 games last season, he’s only made three appearances this season at Ball Arena.

He has one assist, coming on Thanksgiving Eve against San Jose. His last game against the Montreal Canadiens saw him play over 10 minutes to bump his average ice time to 8:19.

Ivan hasn’t been very successful in the AHL either this season, with only six points as well. With tons of forward depth, he, too, might not be a top choice to call up compared to last season. Ivan has been working a lot on his defensive game while in Loveland, and that has grabbed the eye of the Avs’ management.

Jason Polin

Polin has played in two games for the Avs, coming in the back-to-back with the Blackhawks and Nashville Predators. He went pointless with no shots in 5:59 of average ice time. He also has only six points in 18 games for the Eagles.

Similar to the other forwards on this list, he hasn’t made a ton of impact playing limited minutes on the fourth line. But not even creating offensive chances has hurt him, and it might affect any chances of him earning more call-ups.

Jack Ahcan

The lone defenseman who has been called up and played for the Avalanche has been Jack Ahcan. He filled in and played a similar style to Sam Girard when he was out injured.

He got his first point with the Avalanche with an assist against the New Jersey Devils in a whopping win. Another standout stat includes a +4 in another whopping win against the Edmonton Oilers.

In six games, he averaged 11:21 of ice time and has been a delightful addition to the blue line when called upon. This includes his time in the AHL, where he has eight points in 13 games. If he continues his success, the Avs could consider the 28-year-old as a season-long option in the future.