Avalanche News

WESTERN CENTRAL
Gabriel Landeskog  • LW  •  Avalanche

Gabriel Landeskog Could Be An Option For Playoff Opener

Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog (knee) appears to be nearing his NHL return. On Tuesday, he rejoined the team after a two-game conditioning stint in the AHL, marking his first outings since 2022. He played on back-to-back days, which is a positive sign that the Avalanche captain might be prepared to make his NHL comeback when the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin. "I think it's exciting for us, because it may give us another option here when we get to the weekend and start playing playoff games," Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said. "I got to make lineup decisions too at some point here, and we're talking about a bunch of different scenarios. So yeah, could be a ramp-up for Game 1. Maybe not. We'll just have to see how the week goes." Adding a proven playoff performer like Landeskog into the mix would be a major boost for Colorado. The Swedish veteran registered 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 20 postseason games during the Avalanche's triumphant Stanley Cup run in 2022.
2 days ago   
Cale Makar  • D  •  Avalanche

Cale Makar Misses Final Two Games

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (rest) has not joined the team for its two-game road trip over the weekend. This marks the end of the regular season for him, as Colorado wants to give Makar some rest before the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin. Makar is set to finish the campaign as the league's highest-scoring defenseman, sitting on a career-high 92 points (30 goals, 62 assists) through 80 games. Josh Manson (upper body) and Ryan Lindgren (upper body) will also sit out this weekend's back-to-back against Los Angeles and Anaheim, which will increase the fantasy value of Devon Toews, Samuel Girard, and Sam Malinski.
6 days ago   
Nathan MacKinnon  • C  •  Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon To Miss Season-Ending Road Trip

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (undisclosed) has officially been ruled out for the final two games of the regular season. He won't travel with the team for games on the road against the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. Due to an undisclosed injury, MacKinnon was removed from the lineup for Thursday's matchup against the Vancouver Canucks, and he was initially regarded as doubtful for the weekend's road trip. The team is resting MacKinnon to ensure he remains fresh for the playoffs. The Colorado attack is also currently without Jonathan Drouin (lower body) and Ross Colton (undisclosed), giving extra fantasy value to Brock Nelson, Martin Necas, and Joel Kiviranta.
6 days ago   
Martin Necas  • C  •  Avalanche

Martin Necas Returns To Action Against Canucks

Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas (upper body) will return from a three-game absence on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Colorado will get some much-needed help up front after losing several forwards to injury, including leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon (undisclosed). Necas is projected to slot into the second line next to Joel Kiviranta and Charlie Coyle, with Brock Nelson moving up to the top line to take MacKinnon's spot. Since moving to Denver, Necas has registered 11 goals and 26 points in 27 games with 80 shots on goal. The Czech forward has not had much success against the Canucks, going scoreless in five consecutive matchups.
7 days ago   
Nathan MacKinnon  • C  •  Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon Out On Thursday

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (undisclosed) will not be in the lineup on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Reports suggest he may even miss the rest of the regular-season schedule. Following Thursday night, Colorado will have two more games remaining. MacKinnon has made 209 consecutive regular-season appearances. He shares the league's scoring lead with Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov, totaling 116 points (32 goals, 84 assists) in 79 contests. Jonathan Drouin (lower body) and Ross Colton (undisclosed) are also out against Vancouver, increasing the fantasy values of players like Brock Nelson and Joel Kiviranta.
7 days ago   
Gabriel Landeskog  • LW  •  Avalanche

Gabriel Landeskog Begins Conditioning Stint In AHL

Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog (knee) has been reassigned to the AHL's Colorado Eagles for a conditioning stint. The Eagles have five regular-season games left on their schedule, and Landeskog would be eligible to play in up to three of them as part of his assignment. A successful stint in the minors would pave the way for Landeskog to play in the NHL for the first time since 2022. Having Landeskog back for postseason action would be a major boost for the Avalanche if he could get anywhere near his best form. The Swedish veteran has been a point-per-game performer in the Stanley Cup Playoffs throughout his NHL career.
Apr 9   
Jonathan Drouin  • LW  •  Avalanche

Martin Necas, Jonathan Drouin Unavailable Thursday

Colorado Avalanche forwards Martin Necas (undisclosed) and Jonathan Drouin (lower body) will not be in the lineup on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Both players are banged up following Wednesday's victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Jimmy Vesey and Miles Wood will be inserted into the lineup. Ross Colton is projected to move into the top six as a result of the injuries, while Wood could join him and Brock Nelson on the second line. If they land on a scoring line, the two will have increased fantasy value on Thursday night.
Apr 3   
Jonathan Drouin  • LW  •  Avalanche

Jonathan Drouin Exits Wednesday's Contest

Colorado Avalanche center Jonathan Drouin (lower body) exited Wednesday's contest against the Chicago Blackhawks with a lower-body injury. Drouin was able to log just over six minutes of ice time and held a -1 rating before exiting. Over his past three contests, Drouin has not tallied a point. Fantasy managers should monitor his status leading up to Thursday's contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets. If Drouin were to miss time, fantasy managers should expect Miles Wood or Jimmy Vesey to draw into the starting lineup. Ross Colton will likely move up to the second offensive line. Through 43 games this season, Drouin has found the back of the net 11 times and added 26 helpers. The 30-year-old has added 56 total shots on goal and just 14 hits and 12 blocks.
Apr 3   
Samuel Girard  • D  •  Avalanche

Samuel Girard Exits Avalanche Lineup Wednesday

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard will not play in Wednesday's contest against the Chicago Blackhawks. He recently returned from a lower-body injury, appearing in four consecutive games, but Girard will make way for Keaton Middleton on Wednesday. Girard has recorded 23 points (three goals, 20 assists) with 106 blocks in 70 games this season. Middleton has racked up 28 blocks and 60 hits in 34 outings but lacks offensive ability. He has yet to score with 38 shots on goal in 37 career NHL appearances and has tallied only two assists.
Apr 2   
Joel Kiviranta  • LW  •  Avalanche

Joel Kiviranta Returning Against Blackhawks

Colorado Avalanche left wing Joel Kiviranta (lower body) will rejoin the lineup on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. He will take over Jimmy Vesey's spot. The Finnish forward has been unavailable for three games due to a lower-body injury. Despite having a limited role on the Colorado team, Kiviranta has made a significant impact in 2024-25, scoring 16 goals and producing seven assists in 72 contests. He had a four-game goal streak last month, which included an even-strength tally in a 3-0 victory over the Blackhawks. Colorado will slot Kiviranta back into the third line, with Charlie Coyle and Ross Colton joining him.
Apr 2   
Erik Johnson  • D  •  Avalanche

Erik Johnson Available Monday

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson (lower body) will return to action on Monday against the Calgary Flames. The veteran blue-liner has been sidelined for three games due to a lower-body injury. Keaton Middleton has filled in for Johnson and will now exit the lineup. Johnson has picked up only a handful of points this season and should remain a free agent in fantasy leagues. Over 28 appearances with the Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers, Johnson has recorded one goal and two assists with 48 blocks.
Mar 31   
Joel Kiviranta  • LW  •  Avalanche

Joel Kiviranta Misses Thursday's Game

Colorado Avalanche left wing Joel Kiviranta (lower body) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Kings. He has sustained a lower-body injury, which forces Kiviranta to miss his first game of the season. The Finnish forward has struck 16 goals in 2024-25 while amassing 23 points in 72 games. His first chance to return will come on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues. Colorado will replace Kiviranta with Miles Wood on the third line. Wood has contributed very little on the offensive front, posting four points (two goals, two assists) in 30 games, and should remain off fantasy managers' radars.
Mar 27   
Nathan MacKinnon  • C  •  Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon Tallies Goal, Assist On Tuesday

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon tallied a goal and a helper during their 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday evening. In the opening frame, MacKinnon would tally the secondary assist on Valeri Nichushkin's 19th goal of the season. In the third period, MacKinnon would tally his second point of the contest, this time with a power-play goal. Since the start of the month (11 games), MacKinnon has found the back of the net six times (twice on the power play) and added 10 helpers, with four of them coming on the man advantage. In 72 total games this season, the 29-year-old has scored 29 goals, added 78 helpers, and averaged an impressive 4.1 shots on goal per game. He remains a must-start option in all formats and a top lineup anchor in DFS competitions.
Mar 26   
Samuel Girard  • D  •  Avalanche

Samuel Girard Ready To Return Against Red Wings

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (lower body) will rejoin the action on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. He has been out of action for a couple of games due to a lower-body injury. Girard will be Erik Johnson's (lower body) replacement on the third defensive pairing. The 26-year-old may also eat up some power-play time. With a couple of weeks still left to play in the 2024-25 regular season, Girard has already surpassed his scoring total from last year, notching 22 points (three goals, 19 assists) in 66 games. He has taken 83 shots on goal and blocked 94 attempts from the opponents.
Mar 25   
Samuel Girard  • D  •  Avalanche

Samuel Girard Misses Second Consecutive Game

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (lower body) will be absent for a second consecutive game on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. A lower-body injury has taken Girard out of the lineup, though he is expected to make a quick return, as the team considers him day-to-day. Keaton Middleton has hopped into the lineup as Girard's replacement. He is not a recommended fantasy target due to his offensive shortcomings. In 30 appearances this season, Middleton has recorded just two assists, and he hasn't yet found the back of the net a single time in 33 career NHL games.
Mar 22   
Mackenzie Blackwood  • G  •  Avalanche

Mackenzie Blackwood Expected To Face Maple Leafs

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to be in the crease for Wednesday's big clash against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Scott Wedgewood has impressed with four consecutive wins, but the Avalanche go back to Blackwood on Wednesday, who had his own four-game winning run end with a 2-1 shootout defeat against the Minnesota Wild a week ago. This was only his third loss since the start of February. Blackwood has had a great time with the Avalanche, posting an 18-7-3 record with two shutouts. He holds a .919 save percentage and has allowed 2.17 goals. Beating the Maple Leafs at their places is never easy, but the bookmakers expect Blackwood to collect the victory on Wednesday, listing Colorado as a -133 favorite.
Mar 19   
Josh Manson  • D  •  Avalanche

Josh Manson Expected To Miss At Least Three Weeks

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) is expected to miss 3-4 weeks due to an upper-body injury. Manson sustained this injury during Friday's contest against the Calgary Flames. Manson already missed their previous game on Sunday and could be in danger of missing the remainder of the regular season. With Manson sidelined, Erik Johnson should continue to have a consistent role in the bottom defensive pairing. Manson tallied two helpers over his last five contests with 11 hits and five blocked shots. Through 48 games this season, the 33-year-old has found the back of the net once and added 14 helpers. While Manson does not carry much scoring upside, he carries value in category leagues as he has tallied 109 hits with 59 blocked shots.
Mar 19   
Cale Makar  • D  •  Avalanche

Cale Makar Tallies Three Points On Sunday

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar tallied three points during their overtime victory over the Dallas Stars on Sunday evening. Makar would tally his first point with a primary assist on Martin Necas' power-play goal in the opening frame. In the second, Makar would dish out his second helper, this time the secondary assist on Valeri Nichushkin's strike. In overtime, Makar would power Colorado to the victory as he found the back of the net on a wrist shot. This outing snapped his brief three-game skid. Before this skid, Makar tallied 17 points (nine goals) over his last nine games. Through 68 total games this season, the 26-year-old has found the back of the net 25 times and added 53 helpers. Makar has tallied 31 of his points on the power play. He remains a must-start player in all leagues and a strong lineup anchor in DFS.
Mar 17   
Josh Manson  • D  •  Avalanche

Josh Manson Exits On Friday

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) exited Friday's contest against the Calgary Flames on Friday evening. Manson logged just under nine minutes of ice time before exiting the contest. He tallied three shots on goal and three hits but did not get on the scoresheet. Fantasy managers should monitor his status leading up to their next game on Sunday afternoon against the Dallas Stars. If Manson were to sit out of this game, fantasy managers should expect Sam Malinski to enter the starting lineup. Before Friday, Manson tallied two points (both helpers) over his last four contests. Through 48 contests, Manson has tallied 15 points and logged 109 hits and 59 blocked shots with a -6 rating.
Mar 15   
Mackenzie Blackwood  • G  •  Avalanche

Mackenzie Blackwood Battling Illness, Not Starting On Friday

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (illness) is battling an illness and will not start on Friday evening when the Avalanche face the Calgary Flames. As a result, Scott Wedgewood will get the starting nod. Blackwood has performed very well over his previous five outings. During this stretch, he has held a 4-0-1 record with a 2.17 GAA with a .909 save percentage. Before this stretch, he held a similar 2.41 GAA with a .913 save percentage over his last eight contests. Fantasy managers should monitor his status but he should be in position to return to the lineup on Sunday when the Avalanche face the Dallas Stars. Wedgewood enters Friday's game with a two-game win streak. Over his last three, he has held a stellar 1.01 GAA with a .957 save percentage and should be viewed as a top play in DFS competitions.
Mar 14   
LEGEND
✕