The Colorado Avalanche, a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, dressed five rookies in a game on Sunday night. Its opponent, the San Jose Sharks, which just made the No. 1 selection in the 2024 NHL draft and might be years from such expectations, dressed only three. It’s been a weird start to the season for the Avs, but the youth movement at the NHL level is also backed by an infusion of more prospects throughout the system. For years, the Avs have traded away draft picks and prospects to support a quest for the Cup.