Colorado had two first-round picks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft at 27 and 31. So who did the team add to their system?

The Colorado Avalanche chose a forward and a defenseman in the first round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. 

At 27th overall, the Avs picked Calum Ritchie from the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. 

"It's a dream come true to be drafted by Colorado," Ritchie told ESPN's Emily Kaplan following the announcement. "It's unbelievable." 

The 6-foot-2 center played part of the season with a shoulder injury but still managed to produce a point per game. 

Ritchie is a solid pick who plays smart and consistent. He showed grit playing through an injury and managed to help Team Canada win bronze in the U18 world championship. 

"Expectations were high," one scout said. "He was seen as a top-end guy, and he hadn't reached that potential, perhaps because he's on a weaker team. He rebounded after Christmas. On paper, he's one of the more skilled guys, he just hasn't shown it this year."

Defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev is on the smaller side at 5 feet, 10 inches tall but he's a fast skater with good puck control. 

"Man, can Mikhail Gulyayev fly out there. You give him an inch, and he’s sprinted a mile past you with about as effortless and clean a stride as you’ve ever seen. It’s the defining characteristic of his game; the foundation on which every other part rests. Every bit as comfortable a defensive skater, Gulyayev gaps up early, often attacks puck carriers on an arc, and always takes away the middle of the ice with his stick," according to the EliteProspects 2023 NHL Draft Guide.

Gulyayev should fit right in with Colorado's system as a speedy defenseman who handles the puck well. But as he's playing in the Kontinental Hockey League and most likely under a three-year contract, he may not be available any time soon for the Avs.