The Colorado Avalanche Battles Injuries and Suspension Amidst Season-Opening Defeat

The Colorado Avalanche, already dealing with a string of injuries and a player suspension, has suffered another setback. Jonathan Drouin, a critical component of their forward lineup, is sidelined due to an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old left winger is expected to be out for a minimum of two games before reevaluation. Unfortunately, Drouin’s absence compounds the team’s struggles, which began with an 8-4 loss to Vegas Golden Knights in the season opener where he didn’t even manage to register a shot on goal despite over 21 minutes on the ice.

Avalanche’s Injury-Stricken Lineup and Its Impact

The Avalanche is already strained with key forwards Gabriel Landeskog (knee injury) and Artturi Lehkonen (shoulder injury) being absent from the lineup. Moreover, forward Valeri Nichushkin is serving a suspension until at least mid-November, further depleting the team’s resources.

According to Avalanche’s coach Jared Bednar, these absences make the team’s task more challenging. However, he believes it also compels the players to focus on the game’s details and commitment right from the start. He states, “We must anticipate that every player in our lineup has to be at their best, not just play a role, but excel in that role for us to succeed. This certainly adds a touch of pressure from the get-go.”

Avalanche Boosts Its Roster with New Goalkeeper

Looking to strengthen its lineup, the Avalanche secured goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets on Friday. This move followed a subpar performance by Alexandar Georgiev, who conceded five goals on 16 shots against the Golden Knights, and Justus Annunen, who let in two goals on four shots.

Kahkonen, the 28-year-old goalkeeper, spent the previous season with the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, holding a 7-24-3 record. He will officially join the Avalanche once he completes immigration procedures. Since commencing his NHL career in the 2019-20 season, Kahkonen has a 49-67-15 record with a 3.33 goals-against average.

Bednar on Goalkeepers: Improvement is Key

Bednar acknowledges that the team’s goalkeepers have had better performances and expects them to elevate their game. He is also hopeful that Kahkonen’s addition will contribute positively. “The aim is to win hockey games; if we can improve even slightly in any position, we’ll strive to do so, particularly when it involves low risk.”

Mikko Rantanen Welcomes Kahkonen

Mikko Rantanen, who recently scored a hat trick, expressed his pleasure at Kahkonen’s addition, a fellow Finn. He joked about Finland being a small country, making it easy to know everyone, especially hockey players. Rantanen and Kahkonen have previously skated together in the summers and won the World Juniors together, underscoring their camaraderie.

On his contract-extension situation, Rantanen said there have been no updates. He is in the final year of his contract and prefers to focus on the game, leaving the contract matters to take their course. “As I’ve said before, it’s done when it’s done,” Rantanen stated, “I’ll see how that unfolds. My focus remains on the game.”