The Avalanche own the top pick in the NHL draft and have a whole lot of options.

Colorado has flirted with the idea of picking American defenseman Seth Jones, who's the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones. But it appears the Avalanche is leaning toward a forward, perhaps Nathan MacKinnon, in Sunday's draft in Newark, N.Y. It could also trade the pick, according to the San Jose Mercury Sports Digest report.

Last week, the Avalanche made it clear they weren't going to draft Seth Jones, the presumed choice, with the No. 1 overall pick. Now, according to new coach Patrick Roy, they have a clear order of preference.

If the draft was today, he said, they'd select Halifax center Nathan MacKinnon with the first pick.

"It would be tough for us not to take MacKinnon," Roy told ESPN The Magazine. "MacKinnon is ready to play tomorrow."