The Colorado Avalanche may have been hit with the kind of injury news that can change a night - and maybe more than that. In their game against the Ottawa Senators, both Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar left with lower-body injuries, according to a team announcement.
MacKinnon’s exit came after he went in trying to check Senators defenseman Artem Zub. He came away clearly bothered, looked to be favoring his hip, and tried to remain on Colorado’s bench for a few minutes before eventually limping to the locker room.
Makar’s situation was less straightforward. He left a few seconds before MacKinnon, then came back for one shift. On that shift, he barely moved before the Avalanche ruled him out.
That’s a brutal double hit for Colorado. MacKinnon and Makar are the club’s two biggest names, and among the NHL’s top players overall.
Even so, both have been producing at a high level. In 19 games, the reigning Rocket Richard winner has 10 goals and 30 points with a +7 rating, while averaging 20:40 of ice time per game. Makar has 5 goals and 23 points in 18 games with a +5 rating, and he’s logging 22:54 per game.
The Avalanche have still had a rougher start than they did a year ago. Last season, after 19 games, the Presidents’ Trophy champions had just one regulation loss.
This season, Colorado already has six through 19 games. They’re third in the Central Division, though, and still in the postseason mix.
If either player has to miss time, the impact could be significant. Colorado has depth, but there’s no one on the roster who can truly step in and replace MacKinnon or Makar.
In Other News...
Avalanche Suddenly Face A Brutal Problem After MacKinnon And Makar Exit
The Avalanche were already in a tricky spot against Ottawa, and the second period made it much worse when Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar both exited after sustaining injuries. Makar went down while retrieving the puck without contact, while MacKinnon was hurt in a scuffle with Artum Zub, leaving Colorado suddenly scrambling for answers in the middle of a game it could not afford to lose control of.
With Josh Manson also unavailable, the Avalanche may have to reach into their depth chart for help, with Noah Juulsen and Alex Gagne among the names that could be called up. For a team built around elite pace and high-end skill, the possibility of being without two of its biggest drivers is a stark reminder of how quickly a night can change, and how thin the margin becomes when the blue line and top six are both under pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Suddenly Face A Real Test Without Nathan MacKinnon
Nathan MacKinnons lower-body injury has put the Avalanche in an uncomfortable spot at a time when they were already leaning heavily on their top center to drive the offense. He left the game in the second period and did not return, and Colorado moved quickly to bring up Gavin Brindley from the AHLs Colorado Eagles as a short-term answer. Brindley has already been shuttled up and down multiple times this season, so this is not unfamiliar territory for him.
What changes now is the burden on everyone else. MacKinnons absence strips away the teams most reliable source of pace and production, and Brindley is being asked to help fill some of that gap with offense of his own. For a club that has built so much of its identity around MacKinnon setting the tone, the immediate question is how long Colorado can keep its game intact while waiting for more clarity on his status. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Prospect Is Making His Case In A Different Role
Gavin Brindley has already gotten a taste of both levels in the Avalanche organization, and the experience has given him a clearer sense of what it takes to stick. After spending time in both the NHL and AHL, including 56 games with Colorado during the 2025-26 season, Brindley has been open about the different demands each league places on a player, from pace and precision to the little details that separate a prospect from a regular.
What stands out now is the way Brindley is using that time to broaden his role, not just his game. He has talked about development, leadership, and the value of helping younger teammates in the AHL, all while drawing on the lessons he picked up from playing alongside notable players in international competition. For Colorado, that kind of maturity matters almost as much as production, and Brindley seems intent on proving he can be more than just another name in the pipeline. [Read more 🡒]