The Avalanche are adding some extra muscle to the blue line for a packed week.
Colorado has recalled defenseman Keaton Middleton from the Colorado Eagles, giving the club another option as it heads into a back-to-back set that starts Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks at 6 p.m. and wraps Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 5 p.m. Evan Rawal of The Denver Gazette reported that no injuries are being cited as the reason for the move; the team is simply looking to have another defenseman on hand.
That added depth matters now because Josh Manson is out long term. The veteran blueliner is expected to miss eight weeks with an ankle injury suffered during Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.
Manson went down near the Avalanche bench late in the first period, had trouble getting off the ice, needed help from a trainer and then headed down the tunnel. He did not return.
His absence has already pushed Jared Bednar to reshuffle his pairings. Colorado tried Brent Burns with Sam Malinski against New Jersey for the first time, hoping Burns’ experience and communication would help the younger defenseman settle in. The early return was promising, especially after the Burns-Manson pairing had struggled in recent games.
Noah Juulsen has taken Manson’s place in the lineup for now, and Middleton gives the Avalanche another name they can call on if the need arises.
Middleton has played 47 NHL games for Colorado and has three assists to his name. He appeared in only three games with the Avalanche last season, spending most of the year with the Eagles.
In 11 games with Colorado’s AHL affiliate this season, the 30-year-old has one assist, seven penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating. Last year, he put up four goals and 10 assists in 66 regular-season games for the Eagles, then added one goal and five assists in 17 playoff games as Colorado reached the Western Conference Finals.
Middleton also has a built-in connection with Burns, having trained alongside him extensively during the offseason. If he gets into a game, that familiarity could help.
For now, the recall gives Bednar a little more flexibility while the Avalanche work through Manson’s extended absence. With Juulsen already filling the opening, Middleton’s arrival is more about insurance than a major shakeup.
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