What To Know: 2016 Rookie Showcase

The 2016 Colorado Avalanche Rookie Showcase-featuring games versus the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks-is the first iteration of an event that could become a regular occurrence for the clubs involved.
Taking place during rookie camp, the Showcase is an opportunity for participating coaches and management to evaluate players in game situations. This allows those in attendance a chance to show their level of development while competing against a foe on another squad that is doing the same.
Since this is a new experience for fans in Colorado, here are some things that you should know about:

Fan Access
Every game of the 2016 Rookie Showcase will be held at the Ice Centre at the Promenade in Westminster, Colorado. The entire event is open to the public and free to attend, but keep in mind that space is limited. If you're planning on going, show up early to get a wristband for daily access.
Tournament Format
This is a competition. The players know it and now you do, too. The games will mirror those of a regular-season NHL match, so expect three periods with full intermissions, on-ice officials, 3-on-3 overtime and even a shootout, if needed. Tournament tiebreakers will come down to goal differential, then goals for and then a coin flip.
Schedule
There are three games total, with every squad playing the others once each.
The Avalanche takes on San Jose on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 2 p.m. and Anaheim on Sunday, Sept. 18, at 1 p.m. The Sharks and Ducks square off on Monday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m.
The Avs will also be skating at Family Sports Center at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, and at 9:45 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 19, for Rookie Camp.
The Roster
Colorado's lineup for the Showcase (and camp) features a mix of prospects from all levels of the Avalanche system-minus high school and NCAA players due to eligibility-and some skaters with NHL experience.
The NHLers
Chris Bigras - Bigras, drafted 32nd overall in 2013, got his first taste of the big leagues when he was called up by the Avs on Jan. 13, 2016. He skated in 31 contests and recorded a goal and two assists during that time. Bigras will look to prove that he deserves a permanent spot in the Avalanche lineup again this season.
Mikko Rantanen - Rantanen, Colorado's first selection (10th overall) at the 2015 NHL Draft, played in nine matches for the Avs during the 2015-16 campaign. Although he didn't put up any points in the NHL, he absolutely tore it up in the AHL. He finished with 60 points (24 goals, 36 assists) in 52 games with the San Antonio Rampage and was named the co-AHL Rookie of the Year.
Nikita Zadorov - Zadorov, acquired from Buffalo on June 26, 2015, played in 22 contests with Colorado over the course of three separate call ups, bringing his NHL games-played total to 89. He recorded two assists and 53 hits-that's 2.4 hits per game, putting him fourth on the team-during that time and will also look to prove he's worth keeping come opening night in October.
The Prospects
Josh Anderson - A native of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Anderson just completed his second full season with the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. Selected 71st overall in 2016, he accrued six points (one goal, five assists) in 39 games last season. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound rear guard skated in two playoff contests for Prince George as well.
Travis Barron - Barron, 18, gathered up 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists) in 60 games with the Ottawa 67's last season, his second with the club. Selected 191st overall at the 2016 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound wing added six points (two goals, four assists) in five playoff matches.
JC Beaudin - Colorado's 71st pick at the 2015 draft, Beaudin played a key role for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies last season. The Longueuil, Quebec, native registered 82 points (33 goals, 49 assists) and a plus-46 rating in 58 regular-season games and then put up another 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 17 playoff contests on the way to the Memorial Cup Final.
Sergei Boikov - Selected 161st overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, defenseman Sergei Boikov saw his first taste of professional hockey when he joined the Rampage for four games at the end of last season. Hailing from Khabarovsk, Russia, the same hometown as Avs forward Mikhail Grigorenko, Boikov picked up 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 52 games with the Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) last year.
Troy Bourke - Picked 72nd overall in 2012, Bourke spent last year with both the Rampage and Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL). The 22-year-old wing managed to pick up nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 56 AHL games and 11 points (five goals, six assists) in nine ECHL contests. Bourke is entering his third full professional season.
JT Compher - Foregoing his senior year at the University of Michigan to turn pro, Compher is looking to dive right in, whether with the Avs or the Rampage, when the season starts. The former Wolverines captain was acquired on June 26, 2015, and went on to put up 63 points (16 goals, 47 assists) in 38 games to close out his collegiate career. A product of the U.S. NTDP, the 21-year-old wing also represented America at the 2016 World Championship.
Cody Corbett - A native of Stillwater, Minnesota, Corbett is entering his third professional campaign. The 22-year-old defenseman split time between San Antonio and Fort Wayne last season, posting nine points (three goals, six assists) and a plus-2 rating in 23 AHL contests and 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) and a plus-1 rating in 34 ECHL games. Signed as a free agent on March 5, 2014, Corbett won the Memorial Cup with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2014.
Mason Geertsen - Geertsen, selected 93rd overall in 2013, split time during his first professional season between the Komets and the Rampage. The 21-year-old rear guard had eight assists and a minus-1 rating through 42 games with San Antonio and four points (one goal, three assists) after 21 matches with the Komets.
AJ Greer - A native of Joliette, Quebec, Greer returned to his home province to play for Rouyn-Noranda after a season and a half spent skating with Boston University. The 19-year-old wing made an immediate impact, producing 27 points (16 goals, 11 assists) in 33 regular-season contests and 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 20 postseason matches.
Samuel Henley - Signed as a free agent on March 5, 2014, Henley is now entering his third professional season in the Avalanche organization. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward recorded 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 74 games with San Antonio last season. The 23-year-old spent five seasons in the QMJHL before making his professional debut with the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL.
Anton Lindholm - Lindolm, selected 144th overall in 2014, will be making his North American debut this season. The Skelleftea, Sweden, native has spent the last seven years playing for his hometown club. In 2015-16, the 21-year-old blueliner notched four assists in 30 regular-season games and added one more in 16 playoff matches. He also represented his country at the 2016 World Championship.
Spencer Martin - Martin is fresh off his first professional hockey campaign, one where he backstopped both San Antonio and Fort Wayne at different points throughout the year. With the Rampage, he posted a 7-7-1 record, a .921 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average through 18 games played. With the Komets, the 63rd selection at the 2013 draft went 9-9-1 with a .878 save percentage and a 3.23 goals-against average.
Nicolas Meloche - Another player from the ranks of the QMJHL, the 6-foot-3, 204-pound defenseman recorded 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 53 games last year. Selected 40th overall at the 2015 NHL Draft, Meloche split last season between the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the Gatineau Olympiques. The 19-year-old added three points (one goal, two assists) and a plus-8 rating in nine postseason contests with Gatineau.
Julien Nantel - Another of the three players from the Memorial Cup runner-up Huskies, Nantel helped his club win the QMJHL championship last year when he put up 46 points (22 goals, 24 assists) in 52 games. Selected 204th overall in 2014, the 20-year-old native of Laval, Quebec, added another eight points (four goals, four assists) in 20 playoff matches.
Gustav Olhaver - Selected 191st in the 2015 draft, the Swedish center made his North American debut last year, splitting his time between the Seattle Thunderbirds and Swift Current Broncos. He recorded eight points (three goals, five assists) in 51 WHL games. The 19-year-old is returning to Sweden for the 2016-17 season.
AHL Contracts & Amateur Tryouts
There are a total of seven players participating in the Rookie Showcase that are on either an AHL-only contract or are trying out for a spot on the San Antonio Rampage.
AHL Contracts
Shawn Ouellette-St-Amant - The 19-year-old wing spent the last three campaigns skating with the Val-d'Or Foreurs of the QMJHL. He put up 57 points (23 goals, 34 assists) in 60 games last season.
Cole Sanford - Sanford is joining the Rampage after four years in the WHL. The 21-year-old split last season between the Medicine Hat Tigers and the Regina Pats, and he recorded 70 points (41 goals, 29 assists) in 63 contests.
Amateur Tryout
Jackson Houck - The 21-year-old wing skated in three games with the Rampage last year after finishing up his fifth season in the WHL. Houck played for both the Vancouver Giants and Calgary Hitmen in 2015-16, registering 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists) in 56 games.
Filip Karlsson - A native of Angelholm, Sweden, Karlsson is a product of the Rogle BK system and spent last season with both the junior club and the pro team. In the SHL, the center accrued 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) in 47 matches.
Chase Marchand - Another Rouyn-Noranda Huskies player at camp, Marchand backstopped his club to a 26-9-1 record in the regular season with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.
Brogan O'Brien - The 19-year-old center most recently skated with the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. While there, the Prince George, British Columbia, native recorded 56 points (18 goals, 38 assists) in 71 games played.
Jeffrey Truchon-Viel - A Rimouski, Quebec, native, Truchon-Viel spent last year captaining the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL. The 19-year-old managed to post 56 points (33 goals, 23 assists) in 66 games for the club last season, and he added another seven points (two goals, five assists) in five postseason contests.