Entering the new year the Colorado Avalanche were blessed with good health but that has since deteriorated through a tough southeast road trip at the beginning of January and an overall busier schedule leading to some notable injuries. With a few days off now, let’s take a look at the damage and prognosis for return. […]
Entering the new year the Colorado Avalanche were blessed with good health but that has since deteriorated through a tough southeast road trip at the beginning of January and an overall busier schedule leading to some notable injuries. With a few days off now, let’s take a look at the damage and prognosis for return.
Gabe Landeskog
When the Avalanche captain took a tumble and crashed into the net on January 4th in Florida everyone held their breath. It wasn’t a lower body injury and word on the street Landeskog is dealing with broken ribs, which means that he’s expected back before too long. It will be “weeks” though according to Jared Bednar and right at the cusp of Olympic participation.
Devon Toews
The Avalanche defenseman was also hurt on a trip as he then crashed into the boards in the January 3rd game against Carolina. He briefly returned to the game but sat out the next night before the team declared he was out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. He too left the trip and went home to Denver early.
The Olympics are an immediate concern for both Landeskog and Toews which is why the timeline and details are a little more forthcoming as both now become an interest of both the national NHL media as well as in their home countries. Toews is on track to return prior to the break, Landeskog’s situation is a bit murkier.
The Lumberyard
Both Avalanche goaltenders are also dealing with issues. First, Mackenzie Blackwood was placed on Injured Reserve on January 2nd after his last start against the St. Louis Blues on New Year’s Eve. Bednar admitted his status is now “week-to-week” but after missing two weeks now there’s hope he can return by the end of this week, perhaps in time for the Nashville game on Friday, January 16th.
Due to Blackwood’s absence, Scott Wedgewood played three game in four days on the tough southeast road trip including a 20-hour turn around on a back-to-back and unsurprisingly he too came down with an ailment. His last start was against Ottawa on January 8th, and then third goaltender Trent Miner has made the last two starts in his absence. Wedgewood was able to back up both nights and he, too, could be in line to return by Friday. Both Wedgewood and Blackwood took shots in an optional practice on Tuesday, January 13th.
Joel Kiviranta
The depth forward last played on December 29th and now is out week-to-week. There hasn’t been much detail about Joel Kiviranta’s lower-body injury and he hasn’t been back on the ice yet. He was named to Finland’s Olympic roster and is still expected to participate in the event.
Logan O’Connor
It’s been over a month since the organization admitted that everyone’s favorite fourth liner was dealing with a soft tissue injury that popped up as he’s been rehabbing to return from an offseason hip surgery. Logan O’Connor last skated soon after on December 15th but there was no update or timeline given following that appearance.
Lately Bednar has characterized the issue as “frustrating” and “not going well” as it pertains to O’Connor searching for a solution to get back on track to playing and now the company line is “no update”. At this point it may be a March trade deadline decision as to if he can return this season as O’Connor is currently on LTIR.
Out of the Infirmary
Part Two of this series saw Val Nichushkin on the shelf but he has since returned and been in the Avalanche lineup starting December 2nd. Nichushkin contributed his first hat trick of the season on December 31st so he must be feeling good.
Gavin Brindley made his return in Florida on January 4th after skipping the previous game in Carolina game due to a minor injury. He’s been banged up several times this year but thankfully never anything long term.
Category: General Sports
