The Colorado Avalanche have signed their 2021 first-round draftee, Oskar Olausson, to an entry-level contract. The deal is for the standard three seasons. The team may not have had the deepest draft, but Olausson is still a very solid prospect. Colorado announced the deal Friday afternoon.
Olausson is official✍️#GoAvsGo https://t.co/6ifVwcn8lj
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 6, 2021
Avalanche Sign Oskar Olausson
Olausson has not appeared in my hockey games in 2020-21. He skated in just six contests for the Swedish under-20 squad while posting three goals and four points. However, he did appear in games at several levels in 2020-21 with limited results given his age relative to the talent in his country. It will be almost two years since Olausson has skated in a full season when he presumably suits up in 2021-22, so we will have a much better picture of his readiness at that stage.
Our own scouting report is a fan of several aspects in Olausson’s game. He is a fantastic skater with speed and edgework. That fits nicely into Colorado’s overall philosophy and should allow the 6’2″ wing to handle himself well. Olausson is also a good scoring threat, but doesn’t always make the best decisions in trying to make plays. That is something he will need to work on as he gets stronger in the Avalanche system.
What This Means
Olausson is still just 18 years old, so do not expect to see him in the NHL right away. He will need at least one year to acclimate to North American hockey in the Avs system. However, his general skills make him a serious option in year two or three of the deal. It won’t be surprising if he threatens for a role at some point by the time the entry-level deal is nearing completion.
One other factor in Olausson’s favour is Colorado’s general need to remain cheap outside of its core stars. Several roster spots may be up for grabs after next year depending on how much money is allotted for Nathan MacKinnon. Olausson just may compete for a middle-six role once the dust settles on that extension.
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