Head coach Jared Bednar provided an injury update for several Avalanche players on Wednesday ahead of training camp.
Logan O’Connor, Sam Girard, and Mackenzie Blackwood will all miss time during training camp, but two of them are expected back at or around opening night.
O’Connor had hip surgery over the summer and is on track for a return around early November. He’s already skating, but was always expected to be out at least for the first few weeks of the year.
Bednar said Blackwood suffered an offseason injury and is rehabbing. Blackwood won’t partake in training camp with the group but could be ready by opening night, or the first week or two of the regular season at the latest.
As for Girard, Bednar said he’s dealing with some lower body injuries, but the expectation is that he should be good for opening night.
Without Blackwood, the Avalanche will likely have to rely on Scott Wedgewood to be the main guy, perhaps for opening night. And without Girard, it leaves the Avs with one stable left-shot defenseman in Devon Toews. Bednar said that Malinski will start on the left side as well.
If Girard isn’t ready for opening night, expect Keaton Middleton to get an opportunity.
Avalanche Injuries
-LOC: hip, on track for beginning of November.
-Girard: lower body, will miss time in camp, hopeful he’ll be ready for opening night
-Blackwood: offseason injury, week-to-week, missing time in camp, hopeful for start of the season or the first week or two
— Aarif Deen (@runwriteAarif) September 17, 2025
