Avalanche practice notebook: Injuries force more line juggling

The early part of this week has definitely had “back to school” vibes for me. Getting my clothes ready, making sure my backpack is packed with everything I’ll need, seeing friends (who I now get to call co-workers!) that I hadn’t seen in a while, it’s all been so exciting. And now I get the real fun part.. being back at the rink. Ahhh, finally.

It’s a light week for the Colorado Avalanche in terms of games, as they’ll only face the Columbus Blue Jackets over the course of a week, once at home, and once in Ohio. Honestly, this soft part of the schedule early in the season couldn’t be coming at a better time for a banged-up Avs group.

Before taking to the ice today, Avs head coach Jared Bednar did his weekly radio hit to give updates on some of Colorado’s key injuries. Devon Toews, Andre Burakovsky, and Mikko Rantanen are all considered day-to-day, but only Burakovsky is being considered for tomorrow’s game at home. Valeri Nichushkin and backup goaltender Pavel Francouz, who hasn’t seen regular season action since pre-pandemic 2020, are both on more of a week-to-week timeline.

All of those players play a considerable role in the top of Colorado’s line up, and with most of them considered “doubtful” until at least Saturday’s game at Columbus, it’s forcing the coaching staff to try some…. interesting line combinations.

JT Compher looks like he’s going to get first crack at skating on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog, and that’s about as normal as it gets when it comes to forward lines, after that it’s a lot of “well that’s going to be interesting”. Sampo Ranta and Logan O’Connor were skating on Nazem Kadri’s wings, and Tyson Jost was centering Darren Helm and Martin Kaut, leaving one two-man unit of Jayson Megna and Jacob MacDonald.

Obviously, if you do get Burakovsky back in time for tomorrow that shakes things up a bit, but Jared Bednar and company look like they’re preparing to not have that be their reality. And honestly, I thought there was some interesting chemistry between those middle-six lines today. Ranta-Kadri-O’Connor in particular, they connected on a few real nice rushes during practice, and just give you a combination of guys who will skate, work hard along the wall, and run into things. Ranta and Kadri have some real finishing ability there too to make that line an offensive threat.

Jost has been good, not great but good, again early this year, and Darren Helm has exceeded my expectations in the first month, being a solid veteran presence down the lineup. Those two may be a good pair of linemates for Martin Kaut, who is still trying to find a role as a lineup regular with the Avalanche.

Jonas Johansson is in net tomorrow and there will be another call-up this afternoon.

Devon Toews skated in a normal jersey, and was a full participant in practice again. You really get the sense that the Avs are trying to be as cautious as possible when it comes to Toews. He was such massive part of what made their D corps elite last year, and you can tell they’re taking their time getting him back since we’re still so early in the season.

The only real noticeable absence from practice was Cale Makar, who will miss tomorrow’s game and is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury (easy to refer to the heavy tape job he’s been rocking on his left hand all season).

Going into a stretch of only two games across 11 days, this Avs group has to feel much better now sitting at 4-4, and they seem to be settling into the regular season. This week gives them a chance to get healthy, and hopefully sets them up nicely to be hitting their stride come American Thanksgiving.