The Colorado Avalanche are bolstering their depth as the season grinds on, recalling defenseman Jack Ahcan and forward Taylor Makar from their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. With only 20 players on their 23-man roster, the Avs had room to make these moves without needing to send anyone down - and given the current state of their lineup, the timing makes a lot of sense.
Let’s start on the blue line. After dealing Ilya Solovyov to the Penguins, Colorado was left without a seventh defenseman - not an ideal situation for a team with playoff aspirations and one of the tougher schedules in the league.
That’s where Jack Ahcan steps in. At 5-foot-8, he’s not your prototypical NHL defenseman, but he’s made a name for himself as a reliable, mobile option who can jump into the lineup when needed.
He’s been grinding in the AHL for a couple of years now and has really found his stride this season, putting up 24 points in 29 games - a career-best scoring pace.
Ahcan’s offensive instincts have translated into multiple NHL call-ups this season, and he’s already logged six games with the big club in 2025-26. With Devon Toews still working his way back from injury - though reportedly getting closer - it looks like head coach Jared Bednar wants to keep Ahcan around as an insurance policy on the back end.
And honestly, that’s a smart play. Ahcan may not be flashy, but he’s dependable, and in a league where injuries can pile up fast, having a plug-and-play defenseman with NHL experience is a luxury.
Up front, the Avalanche also brought back Taylor Makar - a name that naturally draws attention, given that he’s the younger brother of star defenseman Cale Makar. But Taylor’s carving his own path, and this season marks his first full year as a pro after wrapping up a four-year college career. In 32 games with the Eagles, he’s tallied seven goals and 13 points - respectable numbers for a rookie forward still adjusting to the pace and grind of pro hockey.
Makar has already appeared in five NHL games this season, though his ice time has been limited - averaging just 5:29 per game - and he’s still looking for his first point. Still, his recall gives the Avalanche some much-needed depth at forward, especially with several key contributors on the shelf. Gabriel Landeskog, Joel Kiviranta, Valeri Nichushkin, and Logan O’Connor are all out with varying timelines for return, leaving Bednar with fewer options than he’d like.
Right now, it’s about weathering the storm. These aren’t headline-grabbing moves, but they’re the kind of roster tweaks that can keep a team afloat during the dog days of the season. Ahcan and Makar may not be long-term fixtures in the lineup, but their presence gives Colorado the flexibility it needs as it navigates injuries and keeps one eye on the playoff push.