Nathan MacKinnon (Russell LaBounty, USA TODAY Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/5c82e980-9cb3-47c9-b8c1-545c404c58c5.jpeg] Nathan MacKinnon (Russell LaBounty, USA TODAY Images) The Colorado Avalanche are locked into a first-round matchup against the Dallas Stars in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs. And on Saturday night in Los Angeles, the Avs pulled key stars Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Devon Toews and Jonathan Drouin in a loss against the Kings [http://thn.com/la]. And the Avalanche [http://thn.com/colorado] were absolutely right to engage in a form of "asset management" that ensures Colorado will be at its best when the Stars [http://thn.com/dallas] series kicks off. Sure, some fans may want the Avalanche to put their foot on the gas and generate their best record they can put up. And while it's true the Avs have now lost three of their past four games and five of their past eight games, the bottom line is that nothing they can do of late will change that first-round showdown against Dallas. "The Big Show" With that in mind, why would Colorado coach Jared Bednar and Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland risk MacKinnon, Makar, Toews and Drouin being injured in a relatively meaningless game? It doesn't make sense, which is why the Avs will almost certainly rest those four players again in Colorado's final regular season game, against the Anaheim Ducks [http://thn.com/anaheim] Sunday night. Gabriel Landeskog Set to Play in His First Professional Game Since 2022 [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/23c3ed61-eeff-4f42-9b02-71f75cdf56f5.jpeg] Gabriel Landeskog Set to Play in His First Professional Game Since 2022 <b>Loveland, Colo.</b> - The Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Eagles (AHL) announced this morning that Gabriel Landeskog will dress for the Colorado Eagles in their match tonight against the Henderson Silver Knights. This will be his Eagles debut. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/latest-news/gabriel-landeskog-set-to-play-in-his-first-professional-game-since-2022] The Avalanche may get a bonus addition in the first round if veteran center Gabriel Landeskog can get into the lineup. Landeskog made a successful return to action in an American League game [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/latest-news/physically-i-feel-great-gabriel-landeskog-ends-successful-weekend-series-with-a-goal-and-assist] this weekend, and the emotional boost the Avs would get from him making the jump to NHL action would be considerable. But again, Colorado has to be careful with him; they can't push Landeskog too hard and have him re-aggravate the injury that's kept him out for years now. They need to be especially careful with him, and hope the hockey gods smile down on him as a first-round contributor. And really, can you imagine the backlash if the Avs played a top star and they did get hurt? Bednar and MacFarland would be run out of Denver if that happened. The proper thing to do is sit all of them out, and have them rested and healthy for Game One. And at that point, if they do lose to the Stars, it won't be because they didn't have their best players at their peak. To be sure, the Colorado/Dallas series is going to be the toughest series of the first round. And the Avalanche need MacKinnon, Makar, Toews and everyone on the roster to be fully prepare to give it their all. And that means making tough tactical decisions like sitting out their stars. No Avs fan should be complaining that they don't get to see their favorite players in every game of the sesaon. The goal is to win the Cup, not to win a handful of games that don't matter in the big picture. And when MacKinnon, Makar and the rest of Colorado's lineup is good to go in Game One, these games of rest will be well worth it.
