WA-NJD-MarkstromInjury The Colorado Avalanche made a couple of roster moves on Monday. Forward Valeri Nichushkin [https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/player/valeri-nichushkin-8477501] was placed on IR, and former Calgary Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington [https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/player/oliver-kylington-8478430] was activated. The 27-year-old defender hasn't played since Nov. 27 due to a lower-body injury [https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/avs-oliver-kylington-out-week-to-week-with-an-undisclosed-injury] and has only dressed in eight games this season, his first with the Avalanche. Moreover, Kylington has a goal and an assist while averaging a career-low 12:10 a night. After six seasons with the Flames, Kylington pursued a new deal in free agency, relocating to Denver and signing a one-year contract [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/avalanche-sign-defenceman-oliver-kylington-to-one-year-contract/] worth $1.05 million. Kylington hasn't played a whole season in the NHL since 2021-22. He took the entirety of the 2022-23 season off [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/i-felt-lost-flames-oliver-kylington-sheds-light-on-his-mental-health-battle/] to remain in Sweden for personal reasons. He returned on Jan. 25, 2024, and skated in 33 games, scoring three goals and eight points. The former second-round pick (60th overall) from the 2015 Draft has skated in 209 NHL games, scoring 18 goals, 39 assists, and 57 points. He's plus-22 and has compiled only 56 penalty minutes in his career. Heading into their next contest against the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 4, the Avalanche are 31-21-2 and sit in fourth place in the Central Division. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEyMTg1MzcxNTIwMjgwMTky/thncgynews.png]
