The Colorado Avalanche are going to need more than six defensemen this season.

That isn't a prediction so much as a reality of an now-84-game regular season. Injuries are going to happen, and when they do, Colorado will need someone from the Colorado Eagles who can step in without the team missing a beat.

Sean Behrens could be that player.

The 23-year-old defenseman isn't the biggest or most heralded prospect in the Avalanche organization, but there is plenty to like about his game. He's a strong skater, moves the puck well and has enough offensive ability to make an impact from the blue line.

More importantly, Behrens has already gone through the kind of setback that can derail a young player's development. After losing an entire season to a torn ACL, he returned this past year and put together a solid campaign with the Eagles.

Now, he has a chance to put himself firmly on Colorado's radar.

Last season offered a pretty good example of why that matters.

Cale Makar missed time. Devon Toews was sidelined. Colorado had to turn to its organizational depth at various points, giving Jack Ahcan, Keaton Middleton, Ilya Solovyov and Nick Blankenburg opportunities at the NHL level.

Ahcan is now with the Nashville Predators, while Solovyov was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

This time around, Behrens could be the name to watch.

The Avalanche selected Behrens No. 61 overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, but he wasn't in a hurry to leave Denver.

He spent three seasons with the University of Denver and became one of the most productive defensemen in the NCHC. Behrens helped the Pioneers win two national championships in three seasons and collected several individual honors, including a spot on the NCHC All-Rookie Team and NCHC Defenseman of the Year.

The numbers tell you quite a bit about his offensive game.

In 112 games with Denver, Behrens recorded 10 goals and 71 assists for 81 points. He also finished with a plus-45 rating.

But his game was never just about putting up points.

Behrens stands 5-foot-10, and he has spent much of his career proving that size isn't going to keep him from competing. He was willing to get into battles, absorb contact and play through traffic, while his skating and passing ability allowed him to turn those situations into offense.

That combination made Behrens an intriguing prospect for an Avalanche organization that has long valued mobile defensemen who can move the puck.

After his junior season at Denver, Behrens decided it was time to turn pro.

He signed his entry-level contract with the Avalanche in April 2024 and joined the Colorado Eagles on an amateur tryout agreement.

His professional debut came on April 20, 2024. His first pro point came that night when he picked up an assist on a Peter Holland goal.

It was only one game, but it was a promising introduction to professional hockey.

Then everything changed.

During training camp in preparation for the 2024-25 campaign, Behrens was battling for a puck in the corner during a scrimmage when he tore his ACL.

Just like that, his first full professional season was gone.

Behrens missed the entire 72-game regular season with the Eagles while he worked his way through rehabilitation. He also missed the beginning of the playoffs before eventually returning to the ice and beginning to skate shortly before the postseason came to an end.

But the injury didn't derail his development.

Behrens returned this season and, despite missing some time along the way, managed to put together a solid year for Colorado's AHL affiliate. He finished with five goals and 18 assists for 23 points in 55 games.

Those numbers aren't going to jump off the page, but the bigger takeaway is that Behrens finally got an extended stretch of professional hockey under his belt.

After losing an entire season to an ACL injury, he got back into the lineup, adjusted to the pace and physicality of the AHL and continued working on the parts of his game that could eventually get him to the NHL.

Now he gets another offseason to prepare for what could be his biggest opportunity yet.

Colorado's blue line looks fairly settled heading into the season.

But after playing an 82-game schedule last year, the Avalanche are about to face an even longer 84-game grind.

That extra two games, combined with the inevitable injuries that come with a full season, could put their defensive depth to the test. Jack Ahcan played an important role when Colorado needed someone to step in last year, and Behrens could be next in line.

Ahcan gave Colorado useful minutes and proved he could handle an NHL workload when injuries created openings on the blue line. There is plenty to respect about what Ahcan gave the Avalanche.

But Behrens offers something different.

He's six years younger, and that matters when you're evaluating the long-term potential of a defenseman. Ahcan is 29, while Behrens is entering his age-23 season. Ahcan's improvement as a skater helped him earn an opportunity, but Behrens already brings that mobility along with a more natural offensive game.

His ability to move the puck, make plays in transition and contribute offensively gives him a higher ceiling than simply filling a hole on the third pairing.

That doesn't mean Behrens is guaranteed to become an NHL regular. There is still plenty he needs to prove.

But that's what makes him interesting.

The Avalanche aren't necessarily looking for another player who can survive a handful of games if injuries strike. They would love to find someone who can take an opportunity and make it difficult to send him back to the Eagles.

And unlike some of the defensemen Colorado has used in that role recently, Behrens may have the upside to become much more than just a temporary solution.