Avalanche planning to carry extra defensemen again this season

Training camps have just begun, but Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy has already sketched out the shape of his roster.

On Saturday, Roy revealed he's set on carrying eight defensemen, 13 forwards and two goaltenders. The Avalanche did the same thing last season, and their record would indicate it worked.

With that plan in place, younger defensive prospects are likely to be sent back to junior or to the AHL. The eight NHL defensemen will likely be Nick Holden, Erik Johnson, Tyson Barrie, Nate Guenin, Jan Hejda, Brad Stuart, Zach Redmond, and Ryan Wilson, according to Adrian Dater of The Denver Post.

Roy was still impressed by defensive prospect Duncan Siemens, a 2011 draft pick. "(We) wanted to see what Duncan can do, and give him a fair chance and it seems like right now he's taking advantage of it," Roy said.