More injury updates for the Colorado Avalanche
Photo by André Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images
Some good, some bad, but still same ol’ injuries. Tuesday’s practice revealed plenty more about the injuries the Colorado Avalanche currently faces. After Monday night’s agonizing 3-2 defeat to the Vegas Golden Knights, we learned more about players and their status.
One of them is Evan Rodrigues, who was a late scratch and didn’t play Monday night. He has an upper-body injury but is being considered day-to-day. He was evaluated up until a few hours before puck drop whether or not he would play.
Evan Rodrigues is day-to-day, Jared Bednar said. Something flared up at the end of last game. He skated this morning but couldn’t go.— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) January 3, 2023
The same can be said about Valeri Nichushkin, who hit the ice for the first time at practice since re-aggravating his ankle injury. Both returns are highly anticipated and help the Avs get more scoring outside of the top line.
The good news for both? They will be making the trip to Canada this week as they play the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers. However, head coach Jared Bednar is unsure if either will end up playing. Nonetheless, both are good signs of an anticipated return hopefully soon.
Val Nichushkin and Evan Rodrigues will travel with the #Avs to Vancouver and Edmonton, but Jared Bednar is unsure whether they’ll play. Team will evaluate as they go. Josh Manson got back on the ice today but will not travel on this trip.— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) January 3, 2023
Another player who hit the ice Tuesday was Josh Manson, for the first time since his injury. A second player on the blue line which everyone wants to know about is Bowen Byram. Byram had been progressing downward since his lower-body injury, and apparently had not been reacting to the treatment he was given, according to Bednar.
While he hasn’t hit the ice and had setbacks in his recovery, he is not the only one to feel setbacks. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog remains out for an extended period of time. Bednar had stated he was nowhere near close to returning, and that his timeline of returning within 12 weeks has been extended.
However, Bednar said in his weekly Altitude Sports Radio show said he expects both Byram and Landeskog to play sometime this season, despite not having a timeline at the moment. It’s been a long road, but knock on wood, things may look more normal by the middle/late February on ice for the Avs. It’s the best we can hope for. If the Avs can get back on track and do their best to have around a .500 record when players return, they can ramp up and climb back up the standings as the season comes to a close.
Bednar on Landeskog and Bryam not returning this season/injury updates: @AltitudeSR “No they will be back.. he’s making progress but the original timeline is not an option.”“Bryam’s progressing but a few weeks for him.”“Good news Val and Manson are skating today.”#GoAvsGo— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) January 3, 2023
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