The Colorado Avalanche reassigned three players on Monday to their junior teams. The reassignment is not so much of a shock as the Avalanche were not in the works to get a contract going with them. Usually, the early cuts in training camp are of the junior players because they have already started their season. The Canadian Hockey League’s preseason began the last week of August, with many starting the regular season this week. So for one team, it will be an enormous boost to their lineup with his coming from the Avalanche training camp.

Christian Humphreys

Christian Humphreys will return to the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL. He played in the Rookie Showcase and the first preseason game on Sunday night. Humphreys had a goal during the showcase but did not hit the scoresheet on Sunday. Compared to last summer, Humphreys came into camp much bigger and stronger. He has shown that he has developed a lot in the past year, but he is just not ready for a professional contract.

Max Curran

Max Curran will report back to the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. Curran did not take part in training camp for the Avalanche after sustaining an upper-body injury in the Showcase. He did not have any points during the Rookie Showcase, but stirred things up with a fight. He came close to connecting with Sean Behrens on a play and showed that he was getting better at reading a play. Curran will go to the Oil Kings for rehabilitation, and the team does not expect him to play right away.

Linus Funck

Linus Funck will report back to the London Knights of the OHL. He suffered an upper-body injury as well in the Rookie Showcase and only played one period. During that period, Funck had great positioning and showed great promise for a defenseman of his size.

These three players will be the ones to monitor throughout the entire season. Just because the team cut them first doesn’t mean they aren’t talented players. They will be back at development camp next season, and they will be bigger, stronger, and faster than they were this year.