Avalanche Top 25 Under 25 ranks Domenick Fensore at No. 18, highlighting the depth question for Colorado

The Colorado Avalanche’s pipeline of young talent keeps coming into focus with a new internal-style ranking from Mile High Hockey, which partnered with multiple writers for a “Top 25 Under 25” countdown. In the series, Domenick Fensore was slotted at No. 18, placing him in the middle of the group of prospects and young players the organization and its followers view as worth tracking over the next several seasons. The premise of the list is straightforward, and it frames why Fensore’s name is being counted down now: is he simply depth for the system, or does he have a path to become a real NHL option?

The list itself is a collaboration. The Yahoo Sports post describing the countdown says it is created by “Mile High Hockey” staff members and that seven writers produced the rankings. The cut-off for eligibility is also specified: players must be under the age of 25 as of Sept. 1, 2026. That timing matters because the project is not an all-time assessment. It is meant to measure the near-term window in which these players are either ready to push into larger roles, or remain more likely to support the roster as call-ups and organizational pieces.

Within that framework, Fensore’s placement at No. 18 suggests the writers see both promise and a need for follow-through. The framing question in the opener of the segment, “Just depth … or an option for the Avalanche?” points to a common dilemma in NHL development. Young defenders often exist on the border between being reliable depth and earning consistent minutes, and the difference frequently comes down to the details, not just potential. The ranking implies that Fensore is not treated as a fringe name, but he is also not being presented as one of the top prospects in the group.

The post also makes clear that this is not a league-issued ranking or an official Colorado evaluation released by the team. Instead, it is a staff compilation intended for readers who follow the Avalanche organization closely. That distinction matters, because it sets expectations for how viewers should interpret the list. It is useful as a snapshot of informed fan-and-media perspective, but it should not be treated as a formal depth chart or a statement about guaranteed roles.

Even so, rankings like this can be read as a guide to where attention will concentrate during the season and across camps. For an organization like Colorado, which has relied on mixing established NHL contributors with internal development over the years, the “under-25” list functions like a scoreboard for the next wave. Players ranked in the teens are often those who can become meaningful either through improved readiness, injuries that open doors, or simply because roster construction forces teams to look inward.

For Fensore specifically, the No. 18 slot puts him in that workable category. He is close enough to be discussed as an “option,” but not at a level that the writers suggest is already fully proven. What to watch next is less about a single moment and more about progression: how he handles the step from organizational play to higher-pressure NHL-level expectations, and whether he continues to make the kinds of improvements that typically translate into more ice time and more trust.

One final caveat: because this story is part of a countdown series rather than a transactional or scouting-news report, it does not, by itself, confirm contract details, roster moves, injuries, or immediate role changes. The most accurate takeaway is the ranking’s intent, which is to keep the conversation on Colorado’s young defensive group moving forward. If you want to gauge whether the “option” half of the question grows louder, the most relevant indicates will come from on-ice opportunities and performance once the season progresses beyond summer.

The Avalanche Top 25 Under 25 project will continue to roll through the remaining names, and Fensore’s placement at No. 18 will be tested by time. If the writers’ bet is correct, the next version of this list may show him edging upward. If not, he may remain the kind of organizational depth that still matters, even without frequent NHL minutes.