Just In: Avs confirm mind-blowing setback ahead of season opener

The Colorado Avalanche are facing significant uncertainty as they prepare for their season opener.

First and foremost, the timeline for Val Nichushkin’s return from suspension remains unclear, along with the status of captain Gabriel Landeskog (knee) and Artturi Lehkonen (shoulder). Additionally, there are ongoing questions about the future of Mikko Rantanen and Alexandar Georgiev, particularly regarding their contracts beyond this season.

Despite these challenges, expectations are still high for a team that claimed the Stanley Cup in 2022.

“We have our challenges,” said general manager Chris MacFarland, whose team begins the season Wednesday night in Vegas. “But I don’t want us to wait for the cavalry. I want us to be ready to go day one with the guys we have.”

The Avalanche have recorded over 50 wins for three consecutive seasons, a streak that may be tested this year. However, they can count on reigning league MVP Nathan MacKinnon and standout defenseman Cale Makar.

MacFarland indicated that Nichushkin could potentially return by the end of the month, though there is no specific timetable for when he will rejoin the team, even with his suspension likely ending in mid-November. Last May, the talented Russian forward was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in stage 3 of the league’s player assistance program, marking the second consecutive postseason he was unavailable due to off-ice issues.

“Val’s doing well, first and foremost,” MacFarland said Tuesday. “All the reports back from the league and the program doctors are positive, which is obviously the most important thing.”

The next step is to rebuild trust with his teammates.

“We all know people who struggle with addictions, and those are tough situations,” MacFarland said. “The players just want to know that Val is healthy and that he understands the impact his absence had, especially during the playoffs. How they navigate that is personal, but I can assure you every player will welcome Val back with open arms.”

 

 

Landeskog, meanwhile, is undergoing a challenging rehabilitation process after missing two straight seasons due to a persistent right knee injury that required cartilage replacement surgery. He hasn’t played since helping the Avalanche lift the Stanley Cup against Tampa Bay in Game 6 of the 2022 Finals.

“This isn’t a matter of following a set timeline and being back in four weeks or six months,” MacFarland said. “It’s a much more complicated process. Everything is going well, but there’s still work to do.”

Later this month, Lehkonen will have a five-month check-up on his shoulder, which may provide more clarity regarding his return.

“You have to be cautious with that,” MacFarland said. “You don’t want him to come back too soon and risk undoing the repair that was done.”

Regarding potential contract extensions for Rantanen and Georgiev, MacFarland stated he is always open to discussions, emphasizing that things can evolve quickly, as demonstrated by last month’s rapid agreement on a six-year extension for forward Logan O’Connor.

“We have a lot of hockey left to play this season,” MacFarland said, “and plenty of issues to sort out.”