Avs Announce Taxi Squad, One Assignment to Eagles

DENVER – On the morn before beginning the NHL’s 2020-21 regular season, the Colorado Avalanche announced six players starting the year on its expanded roster.

Centerman Shane Bowers, right wingers Martin Kaut and Logan O’Connor, left winger Kiefer Sherwood, defenseman Dennis Gilbert, and goaltender Hunter Miska have all been officially assigned to the Avalanche taxi squad ahead of Colorado’s season and home opener Wednesday night against the St. Louis Blues at 8:00 p.m. Mountain Time.

The Avalanche also announced that defenseman Bowen Byram has been assigned to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.

Bowers, Kaut, and O’Connor will be entering their third season in the Avalanche organization while Miska gears up for season number two under Colorado’s affiliation tree. Sherwood joined Colorado as a free agent signing after parts of three seasons in the Anaheim Ducks organization, splitting games between Anaheim and AHL affiliation San Diego during that time. Gilbert was acquired by the Avs alongside Brandon Saad in a trade that sent Nikita Zadorov and Anton Lindholm to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Byram was projected to begin the 2020-21 season with the Vancouver Giants before the COVID-19 pandemic delayed plans for the Western Hockey League (WHL) to begin at its usual time. Since the regular season for the WHL is still to be determined, Byram could still head back to the Giants once the league starts up again, barring any desire from Colorado to keep him with the Eagles or up with the Avalanche as a taxi squad member.