Middleton ready to build on successful season in Avs’ organization

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Keaton Middleton had just awakened from his pregame nap in the middle of the afternoon before a game against the Henderson Golden Knights when he noticed a missed call from his agent.

When he called back, Middleton, the strapping Stratford defenceman less than two months into his first season with the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles, was told the Avalanche wanted to sign him to a two-year NHL contract and then call him up to join the parent team’s taxi squad.

“I thought it was Ashton Kutcher punking me,” he said Friday. “I didn’t know what was going on. I had woken up from a nap and didn’t have a coffee yet. I can’t describe the emotions I had that day.”

Middleton still had to focus on a game a few hours later against Vegas’s AHL affiliate before driving to Denver to join the Avs, something he didn’t think would happen in a shortened season after signing with the organization last July. The 23-year-old was a free agent after two seasons in the San Jose Sharks’ organization, and Colorado felt like a good fit.

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“They … were really interested,” Middleton said. “It kind of worked out.

“I’m just lucky enough they’re giving me an opportunity and hoping I can take advantage.”

The former Toronto Maple Leafs’ fourth-round pick has done his part, impressing the Avalanche enough to get his first taste of the NHL. Middleton made his debut in Anaheim in April, playing 10:41 in a 2-0 win over the Ducks. He was the first player on the ice for warmups and took the customary solo lap before settling into the game with a pass and hit on his first shift.

“I was nervous, but it was more anxiety,” he said. “My head was down, I didn’t want to fall, so I did my laps and it was all good. That first game was a whirlwind.”

Middleton played two more NHL games — another in Anaheim and one back home against Arizona.

“I thought I did really well,” he said. “I didn’t know what to expect.”

When he wasn’t playing, Middleton and the rest of the taxi squad — a group of players on standby in case of a COVID-19 outbreak — practised with high-end talent such as Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog and fellow blue-liner and Norris Trophy finalist Cale Makar.

“That was a great experience for me to be there a few weeks to see … what it takes to be a full-time NHLer,” he said. “You gotta be able to practice in the NHL before you can play. They’re high intensity; you want to win battles. When you get on the ice in a game, you’re going to excel.”

Middleton spent about four weeks with the Avs over the season before joining the team during the playoffs as a “black ace.” He had six assists in 22 games with the Eagles, whose season ended in a loss to San Jose and Keaton’s older brother Jacob in the AHL play-in tournament.

“It definitely was a confidence boost (getting NHL experience), but you don’t want to be too confident going down,” Middleton said. “The AHL is still good hockey, and you don’t want to be complacent. You want to keep the intensity high and keep being a pro.”

That means spending the summer making sure he can keep up with the speed to make plays at a faster pace than he’s used to. If Middleton makes the Avs out of camp next fall, even better.

“I’m going to control what I can control and see what happens.”

cosmith@postmedia.com