ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche head into coaching camp with some holes to fill — and a few emotions to fix down the street.
On the eve of camp Wednesday evening, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar stated there was no timeline for a return of captain Gabriel Landeskog (knee) or ahead Artturi Lehkonen (shoulder surgical procedure). However the crew can be with out ahead Val Nichushkin, who’s suspended till someday in mid-November.
It is a state of affairs Bednar plans to deal with with the crew on occasion when Nichushkin ultimately returns. The proficient Russian ahead was unavailable for a second straight postseason final Might on account of circumstances away from the ice. He was suspended for at the least six months with out pay and positioned in stage 3 of the league’s participant help program. The Nationwide Hockey League and Nationwide Hockey League Gamers’ Affiliation introduced the information about an hour earlier than the beginning of the Avalanche’s 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Might 13 that left them trailing 3-1 within the second-round sequence.
“Time heals all wounds,” Bednar stated. “We’re going to speak to our crew, attempting to put it out for them precisely what we have to see from everybody relating to effort and angle and the way a lot they care and the way a lot they’ve to point out that with their actions.
“Val has type of allow us to down in that regard the final couple years. It’s just a little completely different state of affairs if you begin coping with somebody’s private life. I do assume Val cares. I do assume that he’s a extremely good teammate. He’s acquired some rising to do.”
Bednar stated the crew is ready to listen to again from the league about specifics on when Nichushkin can work out with the crew. Nichushkin additionally abruptly left the crew in a 2023 first-round playoff sequence in opposition to Seattle, lacking the ultimate 5 video games of the postseason because the Avalanche misplaced the sequence 4-3.
Nichushkin’s below contract by the 2029-30 season after signing an eight-year, $49 million contract with the Avalanche in 2022.
“I’m certain Val goes to have some issues he desires to say to the group,” Bednar stated. “However understanding, once more, that he’s a part of our crew, and he’s an enormous, essential piece to our crew. No matter we are able to do to assist him and ensure that he’s ready to try this for a full season, or from November on, we’re going to attempt to do this. That’s type of what a crew is — it’s a household. You have to roll with the punches generally, however there’s additionally acquired to be some forgiveness there. I believe Val’s most likely acquired some issues that he desires to say to the crew as properly.”
The Avalanche are banking on a return by Landeskog, who’s missed two straight seasons on account of a nagging proper knee harm that led to cartilage substitute surgical procedure. He hasn’t performed since lifting the Stanley Cup when the Avalanche defeated Tampa Bay in Sport 6 of the ultimate in 2022.
“His timeline is when he says he’s able to go,” Bednar stated of Landeskog. “It’s type of been the identical for some time, and I do know he’s inspired by the progress that he’s made, as are we. However so far as placing a date on it, we’re simply not going to try this.”
They’re taking a cautious route with Lehkonen, too.
“We’re going to attempt to give him as a lot time as we probably can,” Bednar stated.
