The Colorado Avalanche are navigating a delicate balancing act as they approach the postseason, dealing with a string of injuries to key personnel. Coach Jared Bednar confirmed Thursday that forward Nazem Kadri will miss “some games” due to a finger injury, adding another complication to the team’s final stretch of the regular season.
The timing is a blow to a lineup that has been firing on all cylinders, but the Avalanche are operating from a position of strength. Having already secured the Central Division title and the top seed in the Western Conference, the organization can afford to prioritize long-term health over immediate availability. Bednar indicated that the team hopes to integrate Kadri back into the lineup before the playoffs begin, with a potential return as early as next week.
Kadri sustained the injury during Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. The 35-year-old veteran has been a productive addition since his return to the organization, recording four goals and five assists in 16 games since being acquired from the Calgary Flames in a trade deadline deal on March 6.
The Quest for the Presidents’ Trophy
Despite the absence of Kadri, the Avalanche remain within striking distance of one of the league’s most prestigious regular-season honors. A victory in Thursday night’s matchup against the Calgary Flames would allow Colorado to wrap up the Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the team with the best overall record in the NHL.
For a team that has already clinched home-ice advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs, the trophy is as much about momentum and prestige as it is about the standings. The challenge now lies in maintaining a high level of play while rotating the roster to ensure their core stars are healthy for the grueling playoff grind.
Managing a Fragmented Defense
Kadri’s absence is not the only personnel concern currently weighing on the coaching staff. The Avalanche continue to be without star defenseman Cale Makar, who is sidelined with an upper-body injury. Makar’s absence has become a significant void in the transition game, and he is set to miss his fifth consecutive game.
There were signs of progress on Thursday, though. Makar was seen skating with the team in a red, non-contact sweater—a standard signal in the NHL that a player is progressing through their recovery and returning to the ice, though not yet ready for the physical toll of game action.
Analyzing the Impact of the Trade Deadline Move
The return of Nazem Kadri to Colorado is a homecoming of sorts, as the forward previously helped the team capture a Stanley Cup title in 2022. His familiarity with the system and the locker room was a primary driver behind the March 6 trade. Since his arrival, he has provided a veteran presence and a knack for finding the back of the net during critical moments.
The loss of Kadri, even for a short duration, forces the Avalanche to dig deeper into their forward depth. While the team possesses significant scoring firepower, Kadri’s ability to play a gritty, opportunistic game in the offensive zone is difficult to replace exactly. The coaching staff will likely look to shift lines and potentially elevate younger players to fill the gap in the top six.
| Games Played | Goals | Assists | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
The Road to the Postseason
With only five games remaining in the regular season, the Avalanche are essentially in “maintenance mode.” The primary objective is no longer about climbing the standings—which they have already conquered—but about ensuring that the health of the roster is optimized for the first round of the playoffs.
The decision to sideline Kadri for “some games” reflects a cautious approach. In the modern NHL, finger injuries can be deceptive; rushing a player back before they have full grip strength and stability can lead to secondary injuries or a diminished performance on the ice. By targeting a return “maybe as soon as next week,” Bednar is signaling that the team will not gamble with Kadri’s fitness for the sake of a few regular-season points.
The interplay between the recovery of Makar and the return of Kadri will be the primary storyline as Colorado closes out the year. If both can return to full strength by the start of the playoffs, the Avalanche will enter the postseason as perhaps the most formidable threat in the West.
The next critical checkpoint for the team will be the official injury report following the game against Calgary, where the team may provide further clarity on the specific nature of the finger injury and a more concrete timeline for Kadri’s return to contact drills.
We want to hear from you. How do you think the Avalanche will adjust their lineup with Kadri and Makar out? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
