Colorado’s depth up front has taken a hit, and Zachary L’Heureux looks set to be out much longer than originally expected.
The Avalanche forward hasn’t played since Oct. 10, when Colorado hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he has appeared in only three games this season. Three nights after that Toronto game, L’Heureux was a late scratch before the matchup with the Dallas Stars because of an upper-body injury.
At first, the injury was labeled day-to-day. Then it moved to week-to-week.
Now, the outlook has shifted again.
He still has not resumed skating as he works through his recovery away from the ice.
“It’s long-term, for sure,” head coach Jared Bednar said of L’Heureux’s status. “But I don’t have a timeline on it.”
L’Heureux was placed on long-term injured reserve on Oct. 23, retroactive to Oct. 10. This season, he has one assist and one fighting major for Colorado.
The Avalanche brought L’Heureux in on June 24, acquiring him and fellow forward Fedor Svechkov from the Nashville Predators in a deal that sent Jack Drury, Chase Bradley and a third-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft the other way.
Selected No. 27 overall by Nashville in 2021, L’Heureux had already built up a solid NHL résumé before the trade. He played 87 career games with the Predators, scoring nine goals and finishing with 20 points. Last season, he put up five goals and 15 points in 62 games during his rookie NHL campaign, while also leading all rookies with 198 hits.
He also spent part of last season bouncing between Nashville and the Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville’s AHL affiliate. In 25 NHL games, he had four goals and an assist, and he added 28 points in 30 AHL appearances.
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