HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — There were a couple of lineup changes for Game Two of the Rookie Showcase on Sunday afternoon. Forward Gavin Brindley may have proved himself enough in Game One with his effort and got the afternoon off. Meanwhile, an injury sidelined defenseman Linus Funk, who did not finish Friday night’s contest. On Sunday, the game went a little differently. The Colorado Avalanche struggled to find the back of the net for most of the game, fighting off the Vegas Golden Knights. The Avalanche would eventually fall in the last game of the Rookie Showcase 3–2 as Colorado wore a path to the penalty boxes.

Vegas pushed the puck to the Colorado end the entire game and did not let up, scoring just a couple of minutes into the first. The Avalanche could not stay out of the penalty box, giving goaltender Isak Posch any rest in the first and second periods. Vegas took a 2–0 lead in the second period before the Avalanche could find a hole in Cameron Whitehead’s pads. Christian Humphreys and Hank Kempf were the only goal scorers for Colorado with an extra push late in the third that failed to succeed. Some prospects played well. Once again, here are three players who stood out in the loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Hank Kempf

Hank Kempf came to the organization in the Ryan Lindgren trade last season. The Colorado Eagles signed the defenseman to an AHL on April 4, 2025. Kempf had a solid weekend during the Rookie Showcase, stepping it up as captain in both games. Normally, Kempf is not much of a producer on the scoresheet, but he had a hard slapshot goal in the third. He played a physical game, separating his opponents from the puck and helping breakouts. Kempf definitely made his case for the Eagles’ final roster if he was anywhere near the bubble.

Christian Humphreys

Christian Humphreys was part of the 2024 draft class for the Avalanche and could be in line to make the jump in a year or two. Humphreys had a goal on Sunday after a miffed pass by Vegas on the breakaway. He plays a lot more physical game than I expected from him, but he holds his defensive positioning. Humphreys’ excellent speed helped him on the breakaway along with reading the goalie to open the scoring for the Avalanche in the second. Humphreys had the game-winning goal on Friday night against Utah as well.

Max Curran

Max Curran is another product of the 2024 draft class. Although he did not have any goals this weekend, he sure wanted one. Curran also made up for the lack of goals with grit. He was on the ice on Sunday hitting anyone in a white jersey. Late in the first period, Curran dropped the gloves to spark the Avalanche, who were falling flat. Curran also had a wonderful play with defenseman Sean Behrens that almost led to a goal in the first.

That wraps up the Rookie Showcase this weekend. Starting on Thursday, the Avalanche will have their training camp at Family Sports Center in Centennial, Colorado. It will be an intense three days of players who are on the bubble trying to lay everything on the ice for the last roster spot. Ice times start at 9 a.m. on Thursday and are open to the public.