Good news on a top Avalanche prospect

There is good news to report on one of the Avalanche’s top prospects, a player who has been unable to play in a hockey game since suffering a concussion in May.

That player is defenseman Conor Timmins, the second-round pick from 2017 who suffered the concussion in a playoff game with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and has been bothered since with symptoms.

But this morning, after the Avs’ skate, coach Jared Bednar said Timmins will go to the Colorado Eagles starting Wednesday and practice with them on a daily basis. If all goes well, Timmins could then start playing for the Eagles soon after.

Timmins has received treatment not only from the Avs, but from Michigan neurologist Jeffrey Kutcher and has responded well in recent weeks. Kutcher, an advisor to the National Hockey League Players Association, has been an instrumental part in Timmins’ recovery.

Timmins, 20, was a big part of Team Canada’s World Junior title in 2018, scoring one goal and five points in seven games. Along with Cale Makar, drafted one round earlier in 2016, he forms a foundation for what the Avs hope will be a stronger defense in years to come.

NOTES FROM THE SKATE

• Philipp Grubauer will get the start in goal tonight against Columbus.
• The recovery of center Tyson Jost has gone better than expected. Bednar said Jost, currently practicing with the Eagles, should return to action for the Eagles this weekend.
• Sergei Bobrovsky will start in goal for the Blue Jackets.
• The line of Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen will be intact again tonight. Matt Nieto will skate with Carl Soderberg and Matt Calvert, while Alexander Kerfoot will skate with Colin Wilson and J.T. Compher.