The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by Mile High Hockey staff members. Six writers have ranked players under the age of 25 in the Colorado Avalanche organization as of September 1, 2025. Now, we’ll count down each of the 25 players ranked (plus one Honorable Mention).
Name: Francesco Dell’Elce
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Age: 20
Position: Defense (L)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 179 lbs
Likely 2025-26 Team: UMass Amherst
2024 Rank: N/A
Final Rank: #16
High Rank: #12 (Multiple)
Low Rank: #25 (Jess)
2024-25 Statistics:
UMass: 40 GP: 7G, 17A, 24P
The headliner of the Colorado Avalanche’s 2025 draft class is an interesting prospect, which is why he fell in the middle of our rankings with such a wide range of votes. Francesco Dell’Elce went through the draft twice before getting selected in the third round at 77th overall in his last year of draft eligibility at 20 years of age but is on an upward trajectory.
Dell’Elce is a left shot defenseman who experienced a breakout season in his freshman year at UMass Amherst. He took the long road before beginning his NCAA career but with programs very familiar to the Avalanche as Dell’Elce spent three years at St. Andrews College prep school, where Alex Newhook and Matt Stienburg spent time and then to Tyson Jost’s Penticton Vees before joining the collegiate program at UMass which produced Cale Makar.
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With 24 points in 40 games, which led the Minutemen in scoring from the backend, Dell’Elce received Hockey East All-Rookie honors. He was firmly on the draft radar ranked at 82nd for North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting heading into the 2025 draft. The Avalanche didn’t take a chance and see if he’d fall to their pick in the fourth round as they grabbed Dell’Elce with their first pick in the draft in the third round.
Clearly with the numbers he produced Dell’Elce has shown offensive capabilities especially as he continues to refine his game at UMass. The program obviously knows how to develop defensemen and it is a good sign he was entrusted by the coaching staff with a big role as a freshman. There is tempered upside, though, as the King City, Ontario native continues to improve on his puck play and aggressiveness. A career trajectory like Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski wouldn’t be out of the question for Dell’Elce as they have similar agility and puck moving ability. When Dell’Elce is ready to leave school he should be primed to step into the pro game at an older age much like Malinski did as well. Another strong year at UMass would have Dell’Elce moving up our ranks on next year’s poll and on the radar among the organization’s top defensive prospects.
2025 Top 25 Under 25
#25 Louka Cloutier
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#24 Ivan Yunin
#22 Chris Romaine
#21 Nolan Roed
#20 Linus Funck
#19 Max Curran
#18 Jake Fisher
#17 Saige Weinstein