Logan O’Connor Back on the Ice as Avalanche Eye Key Depth Boost
The Colorado Avalanche have had a much smoother ride on the injury front this season compared to last year’s revolving door of call-ups, but one key piece has still been missing from the lineup: Logan O’Connor. The gritty fourth-liner hasn’t played a game this season after undergoing hip surgery, but there’s finally a sign of progress - and it’s a welcome one for a team with championship aspirations.
O’Connor is back skating, according to head coach Jared Bednar, who offered an encouraging update as the team heads into the Olympic break.
“We feel confident in the plan and he feels good about it,” Bednar said. “He’s starting to ramp up here again.”
That’s a big deal. While O’Connor isn’t a headline-grabber, his return could quietly give the Avalanche a boost in areas that matter most come playoff time - depth, penalty killing, and energy.
A Long Road Back
O’Connor’s recovery has been a bit of a mystery for fans. After undergoing a second hip surgery in June, the initial timetable was 5-6 months.
But as that window came and went without an update, questions started to build. What’s going on with LOC?
Why the delay? With NHL injury updates often vague at best, it’s not unusual for timelines to stretch without much explanation.
Now, eight months later, we finally have clarity - and more importantly, progress.
O’Connor is expected to use the Olympic break to get in some much-needed on-ice work. There’s no firm target date for his return, and it’s unlikely he’ll be ready to jump right into game action immediately after the break.
After such a long layoff, it’ll take time to get back into game shape. But the fact that he’s skating again is a clear sign that he’s trending in the right direction.
Why O’Connor Matters
Let’s not forget what O’Connor brings to the table. Last season, he posted 10 goals and 11 assists over 80 games - solid numbers for a fourth-liner - and added two goals and four assists during the Avalanche’s playoff run. But his impact goes beyond the box score.
O’Connor led all Colorado forwards in shorthanded ice time last season, logging 157:44 on the penalty kill. That’s not just a stat - it’s a signal of trust from the coaching staff.
He’s a key cog in a penalty kill unit that currently ranks second in the NHL at 84.4 percent. Adding him back into that mix only strengthens an already elite group.
He’s also the kind of player who injects energy into the lineup. He forechecks hard, plays with pace, and brings a relentless motor that can tilt momentum in a tight game. For a team that’s been excellent overall but still searching for consistency on the power play and depth scoring, O’Connor’s return could help smooth out some of those rough edges.
Looking Ahead
Back on December 31, Bednar was candid in saying that things with O’Connor “weren’t going well.” Fast forward to now, and there’s a much different tone. While it’s still too early to pencil him into the lineup, the Avalanche are clearly optimistic that he’s on the right track.
The Olympic break offers a perfect window for O’Connor to test his legs and ease into full-speed skating without the pressure of jumping into games. Assuming no setbacks, a post-break return at some point in the second half of the season feels realistic - and potentially impactful.
For a team with Stanley Cup ambitions, having a healthy Logan O’Connor back in the fold could be one of those under-the-radar additions that pays off in the spring.