Avalanche chooses incoming DU freshman Sean Behrens in second round of NHL draft

Defenseman Sean Behrens is an incoming freshman astatine the University of Denver and his improvement volition beryllium overseen by the Avalanche, which obtained his NHL rights connected Saturday.

The Avs selected Behrens with their second-round prime (61st overall) of the NHL draught — a prime they obtained from New Jersey past week arsenic portion of the commercialized of defenseman Ryan Graves to the Devils.

Behrens is the 4th DU subordinate to beryllium drafted by the Avalanche since the franchise relocated successful Denver successful 1995. The nine selected guardant J.D. Corbin of Littleton successful 2004 (eighth round), guardant Paul Stastny successful 2005 (second) and defenseman Will Butcher successful 2013 (fifth). Only Stastny went connected to play for the Avs; Butcher plays for the Devils.

Behrens, 5-foot-10 and 177 pounds, is from Barrington, Ill., and played the past 2 seasons successful Ann Arbor, Mich., for the U.S. National Development Program. He was the 2nd incoming DU freshman defenseman to get drafted Saturday, joining Shai Buium, who went 36th wide to the Detroit Red Wings.

Buium and Behrens both interviewed with the Avalanche starring up to the draft.

DU manager David Carle said the Avalanche selected a peculiar subordinate with the 61st pick.

“First and foremost Sean has large quality with a team-first mentality. He has a large encephalon offensively and defensively, allowing him to marque an interaction connected some ends of the rink,” Carle told The Post.

This communicative volition beryllium updated.