BREAKING: Avalanche Get More Bad News Ahead Of Ducks Game
Jonathan Drouin’s absence due to an upper-body injury continues to challenge the winless Colorado Avalanche, as the 29-year-old forward has now missed the last three games following his injury in the team’s season opener. While head coach Jared Bednar did not provide a specific timeline for Drouin’s return, the absence is notable given his solid performance last season, when he posted career-highs with 37 assists and 56 points.
Drouin rejoined the Avalanche this summer on a one-year, $2.5 million deal, reuniting with former junior hockey teammate Nathan MacKinnon. Though his NHL career has had its ups and downs compared to MacKinnon’s, Drouin seemed to find his stride in Colorado last season. His importance to the lineup was even greater this year with three of the Avalanche’s top wingers—Gabriel Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, and Valeri Nichushkin—unavailable to start the season.
In Drouin’s absence, Bednar has been forced to shuffle the lines, with Ross Colton and Miles Wood moving up. Although Wood suffered an injury in Wednesday’s game, he is expected to be fine, according to Bednar. However, the Avalanche’s injury woes extend beyond Drouin and Wood, as key defenseman Devon Toews is also sidelined.
Miles Wood injury is not believed to be serious. Sounds like there’s a possibility he plays tomorrow.
Toews and Drouin will not. No timeline on Drouin yet.
— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) October 17, 2024
The lack of offensive firepower, combined with shaky goaltending, has left Colorado as the last NHL team without a point in the standings. While Drouin is likely to be the first of the injured forwards to return, his timeline remains uncertain. Landeskog’s experimental knee surgery continues to leave his availability up in the air, Lehkonen might return next month, and Nichushkin remains suspended until mid-November while in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The Avalanche will hope Drouin’s return helps spark the team’s struggling start.