Hello from the practice rink, where the Avs held a fairly brief session at Family Sports Center before heading to the airport to fly to St. Louis.

No Mikko Rantanen today again. However, Mikko did take to the ice after practice. Not in skates, but in sneakers, gloves and a stick. And, he did a lot of puck-handling, some of which I caught here on video:

Mikko Rantanen on ice here – without skates @BSNDenver pic.twitter.com/HlacQ4qL8a

— Adrian Dater (@adater) March 31, 2019

More Mikko – those hands…. pic.twitter.com/IcEf6utB00

— Adrian Dater (@adater) March 31, 2019

I’m not sure what Mikko’s injury is, but my hunch is it’s a hip-pointer, and those can take up to three weeks to heal on average. The question I have is: will he be able to play in any of the four final regular-season games? He won’t be going to St. Louis. He’ll stay behind and keep taking treatment. Avs still say it’s a day-to-day thing, so all we can do is wait.

Jared Bednar was asked whether Cale Makar could help the Avs in the playoffs, and Bednar said “Yeah, I think so. Every indication…you look at what some other guys are doing, what (Quinn) Hughes has just done…”

Here’s the thing: The Avs’ regular season ends April 6 in San Jose, and UMass is in the Frozen Four of the NCAA tournament for the first time ever, and their next game isn’t until April 11 in Buffalo. UMass could play as late as April 13.

So, if Cale Makar is to play with the Avs in the playoffs, the Avs not only (a) have to make the playoffs but (b) win a round for him to have any realistic chance of playing. He can sign a pro contract with Colorado any time his season ends and jump right in. The rules allow it.

So, if UMass had lost yesterday to Notre Dame, Makar could theoretically have been in the Avs’ lineup tomorrow in St. Louis. Obviously, his pro career has now been delayed at least a couple of weeks.

Here’s the other thing: if the Avs have just won a first round of the playoffs (which would be for the first time since 2008), would they really want to tinker with the lineup that won that round?

Then again, Makar is a premier talent. There could be injuries, too, things that might force Bednar’s hand to play a guy like him. But, for two weeks at least, we don’t have to speculate just when he’ll turn pro. It would have been very interesting to see what would have happened, had UMass lost either of their first two NCAA tournament games.

Bednar did add that it’s “up to management” to decide whether to sign/play Makar in the postseason, should it happen.

Colin Wilson and Matt Calvert did not practice, but Bednar called those “maintenance days.”

Philipp Grubauer is almost certain to start again in St. Louis.