No matter who returns, the injuries continue.
As the calendar turned to 2025, the Colorado Avalanche looked to be healthy heading into the New Year’s Eve matchup with the Winnipeg Jets. But since then, some things have changed.
While the likes of Ross Colton and Jonathan Drouin have returned since the last injury update article in early December, there have been some new additions and updates. Here’s where things stand as of now.
Scott Wedgewood
Wedgewood was injured against the Buffalo Sabres on January 2, when Zach Benson was pushed on top of his leg, sending him down in a ton of pain. Benson consequently scored and all hell broke loose afterward while the Avalanche back-up was writhing in pain.
A very angry Jared Bednar said after the game he would “miss some time.” Since then, it’s been confirmed to be a lower-ankle injury, closer to a sprain than anything. He would miss closer to 1-2 weeks and not much more time than that, luckily.
Here is the Wedgewood injury as the Buffalo player falls on his leg #Avs #GoAvsGo @MileHighHockey pic.twitter.com/X6bKwI5crt
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) January 3, 2025
Valeri Nichushkin
Nichushkin is one of the most recent additions to this list after being injured in the New Year’s Eve game against the Jets. He got an elbow to the head which went uncalled, but it turned out the injury was not related to the hit.
Bednar told the media after the game he was dealing with a lower-body injury, and there was no more information than that. Since then, he has been listed as day-to-day with the injury being minor – he may be out only for 7-10 days. Oskar Olausson was sent down after Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, perhaps signaling Nichushkin can return on Monday against the Florida Panthers.
Valeri Nichushking is day-to-day “for now” according to Jared Bednar.
“I don’t think it’s really serious but it could keep him out for 7-10 days.”
It’s a lower-body injury, as announced on Tuesday.
— Aarif Deen (@runwriteAarif) January 2, 2025
Ivan Ivan
Ivan is another player who recently joined the list, last playing against the Utah Hockey Club on December 27. Ivan only recorded 5:07 of ice time that night and was placed on Injured Reserve on New Year’s Eve.
So far, he is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury. He’s been a consistent player in the bottom six, and his absence is surely one which will hurt the Avs. The bigger question, especially with the acquisition of Juuso Parssinen, is whether or not Ivan will still be in the NHL or go back down to the AHL with the Colorado Eagles once he is healthy.
Jonathan Drouin has been activated from Injured Reserve.
In addition, Ivan Ivan has been placed on IR (retroactive to Dec. 27) pic.twitter.com/AgTfjGzFty
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 31, 2024
Miles Wood
Wood has been a player who has been off people’s radar for the last little while with his month-to-month status. He last played on November 27 against the Vegas Golden Knights and is out with an undisclosed injury.
The last report we got about Wood came on December 28, where Bednar said he was a “ways out.” Therefore, the roaring 20s line will have to wait to reunite until later this season.
Oliver Kylington
Kylington is another player who also mysteriously disappeared at the end of November. He too was listed as month-to-month with an upper-body injury.
Alongside the same update about Wood from Bednar, he also said the same thing about Kylington. He too is on a “longer timeframe” and also will have to wait for his return to the ice. However, he has made some progress and the team is hoping he will get back to on-ice activities.
Bednar says Oliver Kylington is progressing off-ice and hopeful to resume on-ice activity soon.
— Meghan Angley (@megangley) January 2, 2025
John Ludvig
Ludvig had been left out of the squad for some time with an undisclosed injury. Therefore, there wasn’t much information about him and his status since his last game on December 5.
He is likely the next player to return, as he’s been on a reconditioning stint with the Colorado Eagles since December 28. He’s played in three games so far and should be an option for the Avalanche in the coming games.
John Ludvig has been reassigned to the @ColoradoEagles for a conditioning stint.
— Meghan Angley (@megangley) December 28, 2024
Gabriel Landeskog
Once again, there is the always pertinent question about the Avalanche’s captain, Gabriel Landeskog. Yet again, there is no update about his status or when he could return.
Bednar said he’ll be ready for Landeskog no matter when he comes to him and tells him he’s ready – whether it’s in 10 games or in April when the Stanley Cup Playoffs come around. Just to reiterate, there are no signs of him or the organization heading to retirement.
DNVR’s Nick Gismondi stated there are reports of Landeskog skating in private on their show back on December 11. Since then, he made an appearance at morning skate on January 2 before the game against the Sabres. He looked good in his stint on the ice publicly, but again, there was no update on his timeline and when he could possibly return.
OH?!?! #GoAvsGo https://t.co/9kqBvZeTIe
— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) January 2, 2025