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NHL Draft Lottery: Avalanche ‘discussing’ Jones as possible No. 1 pick

CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game

of Team Housley skates against Team McClanahan at the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game at the First Niagara Center on September 29, 2012 in Buffalo, New York.

Bruce Bennett

The Colorado Avalanche won the first overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft Lottery on Monday, and it’s looking as though that team will have a good, long look at taking Seth Jones with the No. 1 selection.

“This gives us a chance to improve our club and add to a strong group of young players,” said the Avalanche’s director of amateur scouting Rick Pracey.

"(Jones) is interesting, unique to our market. ... Clearly he’s a name that we’re discussing, and we look forward to sitting down with him and getting to know him better.”

Jones, a defenseman for the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League and the top-ranked prospect by NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau heading into the draft, also has family ties to Denver.

His father, Popeye Jones, played for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA.

For the Avalanche, Monday’s lottery win is big news for the franchise, which finished last in the Western Conference standings.

“Clearly, given the talent we have on this team right now, we’re adding another elite prospect to the solid foundation that we have,” Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman told NHL.com.

“It is certainly a big day for the franchise; it’s a big night for our fans and we’re very excited about the outcome tonight.”