The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by Mile High Hockey staff members. Six writers have ranked players under the age of 25 in the Colorado Avalanche organization as of September 1, 2025. Now, we’ll count down each of the 25 players ranked (plus one Honorable Mention).
Christian Humphreys was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the seventh round of the 2024 draft at 215th overall. He entered the 2024–25 season as our 14th-ranked prospect, and after a year of highs and lows, he remains in precisely that position.
The year began in Ann Arbor, where Humphreys embarked on his freshman campaign as an 18-year-old with the University of Michigan. The experiment lasted just ten games, yielding a single point and multiple healthy scratches. His lack of production, coupled with an evident struggle to establish a role at young age in a major program, made the NCAA environment a difficult fit. By midseason, Humphreys elected to change course and find a better opportunity, leaving Michigan for the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers.
From a statistical perspective, the move proved beneficial. With Kitchener, Humphreys appeared rejuvenated, posting 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) across 28 games. The shift to major junior showcased his passing ability, decision-making, and discipline — traits that have long been part of his identity as a player. Rarely penalized and generally reliable with the puck, he demonstrated the playmaking instincts that first made him an intriguing prospect. Playing in the top six and at center brought some confidence back as well.
Yet, the early struggles in Michigan cannot be dismissed. They underline the primary concern that has shadowed Humphreys throughout his development: pace. While he sees the ice well, his game lacks urgency. Some players possess an innate extra gear that allows them to dictate tempo; Humphreys, at this stage, does not. That absence of quickness and assertiveness continues to limit his ceiling.
In short, Humphreys’ season tells a story of contrast — an unsteady start in college, followed by a productive rebound in junior hockey. The talent is there, but for him to rise beyond his current standing, he must prove that his skill set can translate at higher levels of competition and catch the attention of the organization for a contract offer. Until then, he remains a project in progress, occupying the same place in our rankings as he did a year ago.