The Colorado Avalanche are close to getting their lineup back to normal.
Head coach Jared Bednar said recently that forwards Zachary L'Heureux and Logan O'Connor are expected to return this upcoming weekend, a move that would finally let Colorado get back to dressing 12 forwards and six defensemen after being forced into 11 forwards and seven defensemen in recent games.
Both players work in the bottom six, and both are coming off injuries. Bednar made it clear there may be a ramp-up period once they’re back, with each likely needing time to get his legs under him and get back up to speed.
That return matters for a team that has Stanley Cup aspirations, even if the Avalanche have managed just fine without them. Colorado is off to a 2-0 start and has already set records, so the short-handed lineup hasn’t slowed them down yet.
Still, getting O'Connor back is a boost. He’s one of the more trusted bottom-six options on the roster and can also help on special teams, which gives the Avalanche another useful piece as they try to keep rolling.
L'Heureux, meanwhile, is a forward looking for a fresh start in Colorado, and the Avalanche will hope he can settle in quickly and start contributing sooner rather than later.
This weekend’s back-to-back at the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames gives Bednar a natural window to work both players back in. He said he’ll rotate them, so it’s possible neither will play both games.
That cautious approach makes sense. With both players coming off injuries, Bednar appears intent on easing them back rather than forcing them into too much too soon, especially with the travel and the fact that both games are in Canada.
For now, the expectation is simple: the Avalanche are on the verge of getting healthier, and soon.
In Other News...
Former Avalanche Blue-Liner Brings Back An All Too Familiar What-If
Ryan Lindgrens night for the Kraken ended almost before it began, a jarring turn for a defenseman whose career has already been marked by constant movement. He was hurt 15 seconds into Seattles game against the Vegas Golden Knights after taking a hit from behind and did not return because of an upper-body injury, another frustrating reminder of how quickly a season can tilt for a player trying to carve out stability in a new home.
For Avalanche fans, Lindgrens situation can stir a familiar what-if after his brief stint in Colorado following a trade brought him into the fold. He is now in his second season with Seattle, and his recent career path has been a reminder of how often his value has traveled with him from stop to stop. The injury adds a fresh layer of uncertainty to a season that had already been defined by change, leaving more questions about what comes next than answers. [Read more 🡒]
Nathan MacKinnon Suddenly Has The Help Colorado Needed Most
The Avalanche barely had time to settle into the season before their offense started roaring, piling up 14 goals in the first two games and matching a franchise mark. Martin Necas has been a big part of that early surge, flashing the kind of finish and playmaking Colorado hoped to add when it put him alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen.
Necas backed up the buzz in the 6-1 win over the Blues, scoring twice and adding an assist as the top line combined for three goals and eight points. What makes the start even more encouraging for Colorado is that the scoring has come with strong defensive work behind it, giving the Avalanche an early look at the balance they have been chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Bednar Sees One Risk Colorado Must Fix With Zach LHeureux
Zach LHeureux arrives with a reputation that follows him everywhere, and not just because of the way he plays. Since the start of his career, he has piled up 12 suspensions and missed 42 games, a track record that includes a recent three-game ban for slew-footing. For Colorado, the appeal is obvious: there is edge in his game, and edge is something this team has long valued when it is paired with speed, skill and purpose.
Jared Bednar sees the same upside, but he also knows the risk that comes with it. The Avalanche coach said LHeureux can learn to play with bite without crossing the line, pointing to Nazem Kadri as an example of how a player can keep the fire while cleaning up the consequences. The challenge now is less about whether LHeureux can bring energy than whether he can harness it, because Colorado needs that presence on the ice far more than it needs another discipline problem on the ledger. [Read more 🡒]