The Colorado Avalanche have started the 2025-26 season relatively healthy and, overall, remain in solid shape (knock on wood). However, a few injuries are still lingering, and there have been some recent updates.
After working hard to recover from an offseason lower-body injury—just in time to play one preseason game and make the opening night roster—Samuel Girard is back on the sidelines with a new issue. Although he finished the Avalanche’s win over Utah in the second game of the season, the team later announced that Girard suffered an upper-body injury and is now listed as week-to-week. Head coach Jared Bednar said he will miss “some time.” On October 12, the Avalanche placed Girard on Injured Reserve, which allowed them to recall defenseman Jack Ahcan.
Mackenzie Blackwood
The biggest storyline entering the season was the absence of starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, which was initially described as a short-term issue of “a week or two.” While Blackwood has progressed to facing shots during team practices, his return still isn’t imminent. The injury remains somewhat mysterious—especially after the Vegas Golden Knights broadcast revealed he underwent offseason surgery that required several months of recovery. It’s unclear whether his current setback is related to that surgery or a separate injury. The good news is that he has not been placed on Injured Reserve and was instead assigned to the Colorado Eagles on a conditioning loan this week. Since the Eagles don’t play until Saturday, it remains to be seen whether he’ll simply practice or if he’ll need game time before returning to the Avalanche.
Logan O’Connor
Logan O’Connor, who underwent hip surgery in the offseason, still appears to be on schedule with his recovery. He was seen skating with other injured players before training camp but has not yet rejoined full team practices. His target return remains sometime in November. For now, O’Connor has been placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve, giving the Avalanche $2.2 million in cap relief.
Season-Opening IR
Several minor-league players were placed on Colorado’s Season-Opening Injured Reserve until they are cleared to be assigned to the AHL. The most notable is defenseman Jacob MacDonald, who is recovering from September hip surgery with an estimated 5–6 month timeline. Additionally, Ronnie Attard, Sean Behrens, and Nikita Prishchepov all left the ice during preseason games and haven’t been seen or heard from since—no injury details were provided, and all three landed on SOIR. At least Behrens’ injury appears to be minor enough that he was reassigned to the Eagles this week.