Friedman: Colorado Avalanche looking for forward help

[Honour Over Glory]

He can’t practice until then right? I wonder how much runway he’ll need until he’s in game shape

He got back to Denver on the 19th and has been skating and workout on his own since then. He's still in Stage 3 of his Assistance Program, so he's at least gearing up for when he is allowed to come back (I think it was early to mid November).

So if Lehkonen does return on Nov 5th like Bednar stated, then a week or so later Nichushkin is cleared to return, that's a huge boost. At best, Colorado might just want to add a depth forward to put some experience in their top 9 that they can push down when those players start to come back.

Are the Avs still trying to make it seem like Landeskog will return when he most definitely won't?

 

[Cypher]

He got back to Denver on the 19th and has been skating and workout on his own since then. He's still in Stage 3 of his Assistance Program, so he's at least gearing up for when he is allowed to come back (I think it was early to mid November).

So if Lehkonen does return on Nov 5th like Bednar stated, then a week or so later Nichushkin is cleared to return, that's a huge boost. At best, Colorado might just want to add a depth forward to put some experience in their top 9 that they can push down when those players start to come back.

Are the Avs still trying to make it seem like Landeskog will return when he most definitely won't?

Landeskog has said it's not a matter of if he returns, it's a matter of when. Lonzo Ball had the same surgery/issues and he just returned to playing, and Landeskog was like 2-3 months behind his rehab. I've be a nayser of Landeskog ever playing again, but now I'd be shocked if he doesn't return by Christmas.

 

[Hollowmoon]

How about Maccelli from UTAH? They don't know how to use him anyway...

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Landeskog has said it's not a matter of if he returns, it's a matter of when. Lonzo Ball had the same surgery/issues and he just returned to playing, and Landeskog was like 2-3 months behind his rehab. I've be a nayser of Landeskog ever playing again, but now I'd be shocked if he doesn't return by Christmas.

Well for one, Ball and Landeskog's injuries were not similar in the least, one had a sliced cartilage and quadriceps issue that needed surgery and one needed multiple (3 for his knee), the only similar part in this is the cartilage transplant that both had done. Albiet, Lonzo Ball had his done at a younger age for his surgeries vs Landeskog. As a fan of Landy, I gave up hope he'd come back to play, but then seeing the clips of him skating around brought back some of the hope but it's end of October and still no timeline.

This isn't the first time that Lonzo Ball thing has been brought up, cracks me up each time, is it you that keeps doing it?

I understand he's really being cautious with the knee, of which I wouldn't blame him at all, but I recall that skating clip being around June or so. I figured the slow ramp up he talked about would mean he'd be training with the team and gearing to return November, but at this point his joke of "Sometime between September or April," is probably the way to go.

So Lehkonen is returning Nov 5th according to Bednar, Nichushkin can't return until mid November, if they got back Landeskog near the end of November or even December, that'd be huge for that top 9 and then whenever Ross returns, even more help. It'd be pointless for the Avs to really add much more than experienced depth players with low cap hits that can be buried or waived.

Edit: Just to provide you with some better facts...

According to OrthoTexas, it can take up to two years for the transplanted cartilage to fully mature. Recent studies have shown an 85-90% success rate 10-15 years after the surgery.

Once the transplanted cartilage is fully healed, it is expected that it will last the rest of a lifetime.

What is a knee cartilage transplant? Explaining why Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog will miss 2023-24 season | Sporting News

The Avalanche captain also missed the entirety of the 2022-23 NHL season.

www.sportingnews.com

https://x.com/i/web/status/1655949066994589705

It would suck if he returned and injured it more, that'd be it at that point. Ball isn't the best example for this, different sport. Methot would be a better one. Marc was 34 when he got his surgery. Never played again.

 

[Richard88]

Leafs have a forward surplus and a lack of cap space.

Calle Jarnkrok?
David Kampf?
Nick Robertson?
Connor Dewar?

Jarnkrok is an underperformer in the playoffs which is all the Avs care about, so pass.

Kampf is somewhat interesting but the cap would have to work.