Injury Report: 2024-2025 Injury thread | HF’s Longest Thread Just Got Longer

[Tommy Shelby]

Colton was supposed to be out 6-8 weeks and we are in week 5.

This stinks of Avs rushing another guy back too soon...

I was going to say something similar

Management is in desperation mode right now, and as a result Colton will be hurt again in a few games, just like Drouin and Wood were.

 

[RECKLESS]

Well as we always lose a player when a player comes back, it might as well be Colton himself on his comeback.

 

[Pokecheque]

My real hope in all of this is the Avs target a 3C at the deadline and move Colton to wing permanently. Would completely change the dynamic of our 3rd line as Colton is so much more effective on the wing.



Drouin - Mack - Nuke
Lehky - Mitts - Mikko
Colton - ???? - Kovalenko
Wood - Kelly - LOC
Kivi/Ivan


Or what would be even better is if Ivan could actually develop into a proper 3C.


Of course, we'll never actually be healthy enough to see this so it doesn't matter anyway.

IMO Ivan's been decent in the role but they probably need to find someone better so as to bump him to the 4th line. That said, there are more pressing concerns.

Their priorities from my POV should be in this order:
1. Goaltending (AINEC)
2. Scoring line winger (if Landeskog is finally ruled out)
3. #4 defender (hopefully a stay-at-home guy who actually stays at home)
4. Third line center

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

IMO Ivan's been decent in the role but they probably need to find someone better so as to bump him to the 4th line. That said, there are more pressing concerns.

Their priorities from my POV should be in this order:
1. Goaltending (AINEC)
2. Scoring line winger (if Landeskog is finally ruled out)
3. #4 defender (hopefully a stay-at-home guy who actually stays at home)
4. Third line center

I honestly don't see this as a need, even without Landy.

They have a perfectly capable Top 6 right now, between some combination of Drouin/Mack/Mikko/Lehky/Mitts/Nuke.

I'd keep giving Ivan minutes for now because he has continued to surprise me in that role. But eventually he's the spot on forward you probably want to upgrade on. Though I wouldn't trade Ivan to get the upgrade either because I do honestly think they have a legitimate NHL player with him.

 

[Pokecheque]

I honestly don't see this as a need, even without Landy.

They have a perfectly capable Top 6 right now, between some combination of Drouin/Mack/Mikko/Lehky/Mitts/Nuke.

I'd keep giving Ivan minutes for now because he has continued to surprise me in that role. But eventually he's the spot on forward you probably want to upgrade on. Though I wouldn't trade Ivan to get the upgrade either because I do honestly think they have a legitimate NHL player with him.

If Colton comes back in and steadies the ship then that particular need IMO goes down in terms or priority, but I'm really concerned about this team's scoring depth, especially at even strength. Way too often if it ain't one of the Big Three putting the puck in the net then no one is. This is especially apparent with Wood going right back out of the lineup and O'Connor at present looking like he's wielding a mop out there every shift, not to mention Mittelstadt's obvious struggles.

 

[BobRossColton]

Is there any updates on behrens? Rehabbing? Surgery?

 

[Pokecheque]

Is there any updates on behrens? Rehabbing? Surgery?

Nope, nothing. Doesn't matter though, he's out for the year. Timeline for his return shouldn't be a concern until August at the earliest.

 

[ABasin]

I assume when he returns the lines are

Colton - MacKinnon - Rantanen
Lehkonen - Mittelstadt - Nichushkin

I'd prefer they don't do Lehkonen and Nichushkin together on a line.

Unless they're on the PK, I suppose.

 

[dahrougem2]

I'd prefer they don't do Lehkonen and Nichushkin together on a line.

Unless they're on the PK, I suppose.

Neither do I, but Bednar loved the 20-29-96 line when they were together during Colton's super hot stretch and I imagine he goes right back to that.

 

[ABasin]

Neither do I, but Bednar loved the 20-29-96 line when they were together during Colton's super hot stretch and I imagine he goes right back to that.

They've got to get Mittelstadt fixed also. That dude looked better with 4th line guys than he does now with legit scorers on his wings.

 

[Balthazar]

They've got to get Mittelstadt fixed also. That dude looked better with 4th line guys than he does now with legit scorers on his wings.

That's the weirdest thing

 

[Pokecheque]

I'd prefer they don't do Lehkonen and Nichushkin together on a line.

Unless they're on the PK, I suppose.

That'd be something if they rolled out their three best two-way forwards together and then had a top line of their three best one-way players.

20-29-96
62-37-13

I really hate seeing Nichushkin and Lehkonen on the same line but it might just shake out that way.

They've got to get Mittelstadt fixed also. That dude looked better with 4th line guys than he does now with legit scorers on his wings.

I agree but I also think that had a very adverse effect on his game. I still remember a shift where I think it was Ivan, Mittelstadt, and Kovalenko out there, and they kept the puck in the offensive zone seemingly forever, but could not for the life of them create anything remotely resembling a scoring chance. I think Mitts has it in his head now that he has to carry the line and it's leading to disaster, he's forcing EVERYTHING and it's just leading to continual turnovers.