The Colorado Avalanche went back to a familiar place for its first selection in the 2025 NHL draft.
Colorado selected Francesco Dell’Elce, a defenseman from the University of Massachusetts, with the No. 77 pick in the third round Saturday. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 179 pounds, the left-shooting Dell’Elce had seven goals and 24 points in 40 games as a freshman at UMass this past season.
Dell’Elce is a King City, Ontario native. He was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. This was the third year Dell’Elce was eligible for the draft. He turned 20 years old on Monday.
Dell’Elce will be the third Avs draft pick to play for UMass in the past nine years. Cale Makar was the No. 4 pick in the 2017 draft, and then Taylor Makar was a seventh-round selection in 2020. The Makar brothers played for the Brooks Bandits in the AJHL ahead of the draft before joining UMass.
Avs select Swedish defenseman in fourth round
Colorado selected Linus Funck, a 6-foot-3 defenseman, with pick No. 118 in the fourth round.
Funck, a right-handed shot, had five goals and 28 points in 48 games for Luleå’s U-20 junior team. He was the No. 39-ranked European skater in the class by NHL central scouting. He turned 18 on May 10.
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