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Minnesota Wild: Hat Trick Secures Wild’s First Win of Preseason

By Cody Defoe

ST. PAUL, MN - MARCH 13: Nino Niederreiter #22 of the Minnesota Wild checks a member of the Colorado Avalanche during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on March 13, 2018 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - MARCH 13: Nino Niederreiter #22 of the Minnesota Wild checks a member of the Colorado Avalanche during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on March 13, 2018 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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PROVIDENCE, RI – MARCH 24: Sheldon Dries #8 of the Western Michigan Broncos skates against the Air Force Falcons during game two of the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey East Regional Championship semifinal at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on March 24, 2017 in Providence, Rhode Island. The Falcons won 5-4. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
PROVIDENCE, RI – MARCH 24: Sheldon Dries #8 of the Western Michigan Broncos skates against the Air Force Falcons during game two of the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey East Regional Championship semifinal at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on March 24, 2017 in Providence, Rhode Island. The Falcons won 5-4. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

Colorado Avalanche’s Sheldon Dries

There wasn’t much to be happy about from the players the Avalanche put on the ice in this one. It was a dismal effort for all involved, and certainly a clear show of where they stand against true NHL talent.

There was a bright spot on the night, buried underneath all of the negativity around a 7-0 loss. Rookie forward prospect Sheldon Dries actually finished the game as one of only 2 Avalanche players to not have a negative +/-.

My first instinct was to think perhaps he didn’t play much, or wasn’t facing any of the top lines, but a look at the play-by-play on NHL.com actually shows that he was on the ice against the Koivu and Staal lines more often than not.

On top of that, Dries was among the Colorado leaders in ice-time for the game with 17 minutes played. He went 50% (3 for 6) in the faceoff circle, starting most of his shifts in the defensive zone, and winning 1 faceoff each against Mikko Koivu, Eric Staal, and Mikael Granlund.

Dries also led the Avs in shots on goal, with 4 shots making it through, and was a consistent member of both their power play and penalty kill through the night.

Sheldon Dries is a 24 year old NHL Rookie, who played USHL hockey in Green Bay and NCAA hockey at Western Michigan. He is seemingly come out of nowhere, playing last season on an AHL contract with the Texas Stars before signing an NHL deal with Colorado this summer.

Honestly, watching the game there was nobody on Colorado who stood out to me. The entire team looked like amatuers playing against pros, which is what it was. To look at the final stats and see Dries stat line, I’m a little surprised myself by his performance.

He wasn’t eye catching during the game, and if you can’t pass the eye test chances are you won’t have a place on the NHL Roster. But if he can maintain performances like this in the AHL, he may yet find his way into the Avalanche roster.

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