[News] Avs update: Nichushkin, Drouin back + Landeskog expected to return this year

[jg13]

Colorado is 4-1 in their last 5. MacKinnon is on pace for 125 assists this year after 17 games with a 5 point lead in the scoring race. Landeskog is still out longterm but could be back in February based on Twitter rumours and is expected to be back sometime this year.

Nichushkin back this Friday
Drouin could be back this Friday

https://twitter.com/user/status/1856939065330876509

https://twitter.com/user/status/1854939785061974446

[Geeoff]

It's really sad what has happened to Landeskog. Hopefully, he can comeback and still be an effective player

[Erick Estrada]

The league is better when it's best players are available so I hope he can come back as it's been a long road considering he had his knee surgery in May of 2023.

[Funkhouser]

Any capologists want to explain the AVs situation if/when Landy comes back??

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The league is better when it's best players are available so I hope he can come back as it's been a long road considering he had his knee surgery in May of 2023.

And that was already after he missed the entire 22-23 season trying to rehab the knee first.

He's missed 2 full seasons and likely at least half of this season.

[transplant99]

But remember when the tin foil hat crew assured everyone that he would be back "miraculously" for the playoffs 2 seasons ago.....and then again last year?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

And that was already after he missed the entire 22-23 season trying to rehab the knee first.

He's missed 2 full seasons and likely at least half of this season.

He's been gone so long you wonder how long it will take him to get up to speed. He would likely need at least two months of regular season hockey to be a factor in the playoffs you would think.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's been gone so long you wonder how long it will take him to get up to speed. He would likely need at least two months of regular season hockey to be a factor in the playoffs you would think.

Hopefully, in time to eliminate the Oilers or Canucks

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

Hopefully, in time to eliminate the Oilers or Canucks

And to cover Nichuskin's inevitable kidnapping or human trafficking charge.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by transplant99

But remember when the tin foil hat crew assured everyone that he would be back "miraculously" for the playoffs 2 seasons ago.....and then again last year?

Vegas and Tampa only emboldened those darn tin foil hatters

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

Any capologists want to explain the AVs situation if/when Landy comes back??

Right now they have just enough cap space to activate Nichuskin. To activate Landeskog, they would have to free up a lot more. Like maybe trade Girard or Lehkonen or both.

[Buff]

MacKinnon is on an incredible pace. Even if he keeps it up and totaly shatters what McDavid did last year you know that Sportsnet will be saying how McDavid's total was more impressive.

[Ped]

MacKinnon is on an incredible pace, but it should be noted that he, Rantanan, and Lehkonen are playing more than any other forward - Mackinnon more than a minute per game, and Lehkonen over 2 minutes more than the next non-Av.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Ped

MacKinnon is on an incredible pace, but it should be noted that he, Rantanan, and Lehkonen are playing more than any other forward - Mackinnon more than a minute per game, and Lehkonen over 2 minutes more than the next non-Av.

Yeah, definitely tarnishes the 120 assist legacy he'll leave this year lol.

[Paulie Walnuts]

They should be adding Valdar soon as well.

[CliffFletcher]

You gotta do what you gotta do when you’re coping with so many injuries. But if the Avs don’t ease off on McKinnon’s ice time, he won’t have anything left in the tank for the playoffs.

[Ped]

Both he and Rantanen were the leaders for ice time for forwards last year too, by a large margin (over a minute per game). His scoring rate in the playoffs was still excellent but down from his insane regular season totals, which is probably to be expected.

[ThatHighGuy]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

You gotta do what you gotta do when you’re coping with so many injuries. But if the Avs don’t ease off on McKinnon’s ice time, he won’t have anything left in the tank for the playoffs.

I wouldn't be too worried about Mackinnon. Guy is a freak

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

You gotta do what you gotta do when you’re coping with so many injuries. But if the Avs don’t ease off on McKinnon’s ice time, he won’t have anything left in the tank for the playoffs.

From what I've read, MacKinnon is a Chara-level health and fitness freak.

I would only worry about injury - which can happen to anyone, anytime.

[activeStick]

The better the competition there is to face the Oilers, the better. Knowing the Avs are going to get a massive roster boost is great!