Malinski taking patient approach to landing spot with Avalanche

DENVER -- Last summer, Sam Malinski was preparing for his senior season with Cornell University, his first as captain, in the Eastern College Athletic Conference. This summer, the 25-year-old defenseman is getting ready to battle for a potential roster spot at Colorado Avalanche training camp in September.

But his focus isn't entirely on whether he'll land a full-time role in the NHL.

"I'm not thinking about it too much, really. Just kind of taking it day by day, working on my training," Malinski said during Colorado development camp last month. "I know what I need to do to give myself good opportunities for training camp. So just kind of taking it day by day and not expecting too much going forward."

Malinski (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) signed a two-year contract as a free agent with the Avalanche on March 30 and made his professional hockey debut last season with Colorado of the American Hockey League. He had five points (three goals, two assists) in seven regular-season games and five assists in seven Calder Cup Playoff games.

Malinski said leaving Cornell, where he had 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 34 games last season, was a whirlwind of an experience.

"It was a crazy few days. Really stressful," he said. "But once I got to Colorado, everyone was really good about kind of helping me settle in and get used to the pace of play. So crazy transition, crazy few days, but we were able to work fast and everything was good."

Malinski has used that brief stint to develop a plan of action for his development this offseason.

"It's a much faster game than college," he said. "Players transition quick, so everything's about footwork really and defending. So just working on not crossing my feet and working on my defensive posture and just kind of little stuff like that.

"As far as training goes, just working out a good amount, working on speed and explosiveness, and skating wise I'm working with a power skater, working on little skills, and just everything I need to get ready for the season."

Knowing his own strengths helps; Malinski said he has no need to change what has been working for him.

"I'm an undersized guy, but I think I move well, skate well," he said. "I like to get the puck up the ice as best I can, and I think one of my strengths is hockey IQ."

The Avalanche are bullish on Malinski, who left enough of an impression with his transition to the pro game that he's claimed a spot near the top of the organizational depth chart.

"A smooth-skating, smart, puck-moving defenseman," Avalanche director of player development Brian Willsie said. "It's what we love here, and him jumping into pro at that time of the regular season, it's tough hockey. He was one of our best defenseman in the playoffs for the Eagles (AHL). So it's a testament to him to show that he's ready for pro hockey and [can] take a big bite out of it."