Who Wore It Best: Number 7

There have been nine players with the lucky number 7 jersey in Colorado Avalanche history, some more well known than others.

Mark Alt (Regular Season, GP 7, 0G, 0A, 0 PIM)

The latest Avalanche member to don to Burgundy and Blue is the first one we will look at. Mark Alt was drafted 53rd overall by the Carolina Hurricanes, after playing 8 games with the NHL the Avalanche pick Alt up off of the waivers on February 26th 2018. He played 7 games with the Avs in 2018 sporting number 7. In his short time with the Avs, the 6’4 and 210 pound defenseman has yet to have a point or a penalty minute, but he has been a solid presence on the blue line and it has earned him a 2 year contract.

Johnny Boychuck (Regular Season, GP 4, 0G, 0A, 0 PIM)

Johnny Boychuck  was drafted 61st overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2002, but he stayed in the minor leagues until the 2007-208 season. At that point he was called up by the Colorado Avalanche for four games. Even though Boychuk is a defenseman, his first NHL game featured him playing a forward role. After the 2008 season he was traded for Matt Hendricks. In his short four games in Avs gear, he was help off the score board and didn’t take a single trip to the Sin Bin.

Greg De Vries (Regular Season, GP 379, 22G, 60A, 311 PIM)

Greg De Vries started out his NHL career undrafted. In 1994 he signed a contract with the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent. In 1998 he was traded to Nashville who then traded him to Colorado within a month for a second round draft pick. Greg stayed in Colorado for five years before he left Denver as a free agent and signed with the New York Rangers. Greg played in over 800 NHL games, including appearing twice for all 82 games in a Colorado Avalanche regular season, and was part of the Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup winning team in 2001.

He wore the Burgundy and Blue for 379 regular season games, had 22 goals, 60 assists and 311 penalty minutes in that time.

Darby Hendrickson (Regular Season, GP 20, 1G, 3A, 6 PIM)

Darby Hendrickson was a centerman drafted 73rd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1990. He was traded to Colorado in 2004.

While with Colorado he played in 20 games, had 1 goal, 3 assists and 6 penalty minutes. He left for Europe during the lockout and remained there until his retirement

T.J. Hensick (Regular Season, GP 99, 11G, 24A, 16 PIM)

T.J. Hensick was a centerman drafted 88th overall by the Colorado Avalanche during the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He remained with the Avs until he was traded in 2010 to the St Louis Blues.

While with Colorado he appeared in 99 games, had 11 goals, 24 assists and 16 penalty minutes.

Curtis Leschyshyn (Regular Season, GP 522, 34G, 107A, 431 PIM)

Curtis Leschyshyn was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques 3rd overall in 1988. He played in La Belle Province until the team moved to Colorado and he remained with the team while they won their first Stanley Cup playoff. He was traded to Washington in 1997. This makes Curtis the first player to wear number 7 in the Burgundy and Blue.

Between the two teams the defenseman played in 522 games, had 34 goals and 107 assists. He also amassed 431 penalty minutes.

John Mitchell (13-17) (Regular Season, GP 326, 39G, 51A, 155 PIM)

John Mitchell was drafted 158th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The centerman joined the Colorado Avalanche via free agency in 2012. He left via free agency signing two PTOs with two clubs that year before going on to be with the Blue Jackets affiliate.

While with Colorado he dressed for 326 games, had 39 goals, 51 assists and 155 penalty minutes.

Pascal Trepanier (Regular Season GP 89, 4G, 10A, 77 PIM)

Pascal Trepanier was yet another undrafted defenseman who chose to wore number 7. He was a member of the Hershey Bears before signing with the Colorado Avalanche in 1998. While with the Colorado Avalanche in 1998 he played in 15 games and had 1 assist and 18 penalty minutes. He left and was with they Mighty Ducks for three years before returning to Colorado for one more year in 2002. His second-time around he payed in 74 games had 13 points and 59 penalty minutes.

David Van Der Gulik (Regular Season GP 42, 2G, 9A, 10 PIM

David Van Der Gulik was drafted 206th overall by the Calgary Flames. He signed with the Colorado Avalanche via free agency in 2010 and left the team in 2014 via free agency. While with Colorado he played in 42 games, had 2 goals, 9 assists and 10 penalty minutes.

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