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Colorado Avalanche add Nolan Pratt to coaching staff

By Austin Cassidy

Apr 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; General wide view of the American flag projected onto the rink of the Pepsi Center before the start of the game between the Anaheim Ducks against the Colorado Avalanche. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; General wide view of the American flag projected onto the rink of the Pepsi Center before the start of the game between the Anaheim Ducks against the Colorado Avalanche. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NHL’s Colorado Avalanche announced today that they’ve added Nolan Pratt to their coaching staff.

Pratt will serve as an assistant coach for the Avs along side current assistants Tim Army and Dave Farrish.

Pratt, 40, spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach in the American Hockey League, coaching the Lake Erie Monsters in 2015-16 after four years with the Springfield Falcons (2011-15).

He helped guide the Monsters to the 2016 Calder Cup as AHL champions.

BSN Denver speculates Pratt will focus on improving the team’s defense:

"The Colorado Avalanche’s defensive woes are well documented, so it stands to reason, that he’s been hired as part of the team’s effort to improve their shot suppression and puck possession moving forward."

A native of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Pratt played 592 games over 11 seasons in the NHL with Hartford/Carolina, Colorado, Tampa Bay and Buffalo.

He was a member of the Avalanche’s 2001 Stanley Cup championship team, and also won a Cup as a member of the Lightning in 2003-04.

Selected by the Whalers in the fifth round (115th overall) of the 1993 Entry Draft, Pratt finished with 65 points (nine goals, 56 assists) and 537 penalty minutes during his career, which included three points (one goal, two assists) in 46 games during his lone season with the Avalanche in 2000-01.

The Colorado Avalanche last made the playoffs during the 2013-2014 season, finishing first in the Central Division.

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