Avalanche Confirm Injury Timelines for Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar

The Colorado Avalanche are facing a significant setback, and it’s more than just a few games.

Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are both expected to miss extended time after sustaining lower-body injuries Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators.

Head coach Jared Bednar told reporters Saturday, per The Denver Post’s Corey Masisak, that MacKinnon is expected to miss approximately one month, while Makar is facing a two-week absence.

The news leaves Colorado without its two biggest stars for a substantial stretch of the season, putting even more pressure on the team’s depth as it navigates the remainder of its road trip.

Gavin Brindley, who was recalled from the Colorado Eagles, will fill the void left by MacKinnon. Meanwhile, Alex Gagne, who had been traveling with the team as an extra defenseman, is set to make his NHL debut against Montreal.

Both injuries occurred during the second period of Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Ottawa. Makar appeared to struggle with his right leg after attempting to collect a loose puck, managing just four seconds on his initial shift before heading to the locker room. He briefly returned for another 23-second shift but did not play again.

MacKinnon’s injury came less than a minute later. The Avalanche center appeared to take a cross-check from Ottawa defenseman Artem Zub while trying to protect the puck in the offensive zone. MacKinnon immediately grimaced, fell to the ice and reached toward his right side before heading to the locker room.

Makar’s situation is particularly worth monitoring given his recent history. He left a Colorado practice earlier this week for what the team described as precautionary reasons. Around the time he signed his record-breaking eight-year, $163.2 million contract, Makar also worked through a lower-body issue that appeared similar in nature, participating in modified skating sessions during that stretch.

There is no confirmation that the two situations are related, but the similarities are worth watching. Colorado cannot afford to take unnecessary chances with a player of Makar’s importance.

MacKinnon leads the Avalanche with 30 points in 20 games, while Makar has 23 points in 19 appearances, tied for third among NHL defensemen. Artturi Lehkonen leads Colorado with 14 goals, while MacKinnon and Martin Necas are tied for second with 10 apiece.

Losing either superstar would be difficult enough. Having both sidelined for weeks is a major challenge for an Avalanche team with Stanley Cup aspirations.