Nick Blankenburg didn’t need long to make his presence felt in his return to Ball Arena.
The former Colorado Avalanche defenseman, now with the Toronto Maple Leafs, stepped into the spotlight just three minutes into Saturday night’s game and buried a power-play chance past MacKenzie Blackwood. William Nylander fed him the puck, and Blankenburg made the Avs pay in his first shift back in Denver.
The timing made it sting even more for Colorado. The Avalanche let Blankenburg go in free agency over the summer, and he later landed with Toronto on a Professional Tryout before earning a spot with the club. With John Tavares out because of paternity leave, the Leafs dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen, giving Blankenburg his season debut against the very team that moved on from him.
Colorado answered quickly, though, and Nathan MacKinnon did the heavy lifting. He tied the game with his fourth goal of the season after taking it coast to coast and beating Toronto netminder Sergei Bobrovsky at the 10:46 mark of the first period. A few minutes later, MacKinnon struck again, this time with a wrist shot that put the Avalanche ahead 2-1 heading into the intermission.
The Avs then had a chance to take control early in the second period, opening the frame on the power play and briefly working with a 5-on-3 edge. They couldn’t cash in, and Toronto made them regret it almost immediately. William Nylander scored on the power play soon after to bring the Maple Leafs level at 2-2.
In Other News...
Avalanche Suddenly Have More Riding On Trent Miner Than Expected
The Avalanches handling of Trent Miner this week spoke to how thin the margins can be when a team is juggling goaltending depth. Colorado activated Miner off injured reserve and put him on waivers with the intent of sending him back to the Eagles, a routine enough transaction on paper, but one that happened as teams around the league were watching the crease market closely.
For Colorado, Miner is suddenly carrying more long-term significance than a standard roster shuffle would suggest. He has been part of the organizations goaltending conversation before, and with the Avalanche dealing with current struggles and contract questions in net, his future role is drawing more attention than it might have a month ago. Even a move designed to clear a path for reassignment now feels tied to bigger decisions ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Former Avs Assistant Leaves Colorado With One Big Question For Bednar
Dave Hakstols stint on the Avalanche staff appears to be ending after one season, with the former Colorado assistant expected to take over as the new head coach at Arizona State. His departure comes as ASU continues to navigate a messy and unsettling situation surrounding the program, with head coach Greg Powers on administrative leave while investigations continue into the collapse of player Matthew Mayich during off-season workouts.
For the Avalanche, the timing at least brings a clean break from a coach who had been running the power play, but it also leaves one obvious question for Jared Bednar and his staff: what comes next on that side of the bench? Colorado had allowed Hakstol to explore the ASU opening, and with the Sun Devils searching for stability amid ongoing inquiries by university police and legal actions from Mayichs family, his next step could come quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Lose A Key Coach As Power Play Questions Keep Growing
Dave Hakstols brief stay on the Avalanche bench is ending after one season, with the veteran coach set to move on from Colorados staff. Hakstol, who came to the Avalanche after previously serving as head coach of the Seattle Kraken, brought a rsum built on experience behind the bench and a presence the organization had counted on as it tried to keep its coaching structure stable.
For Colorado, the timing adds another layer to a power play that has already been under scrutiny lately. The club has not announced a replacement, leaving an important piece of the staff picture unsettled as the Avalanche sort through what Hakstols exit means for a unit that needed help before this news broke. [Read more 🡒]