Colorado Avalanche winger Logan O’Connor is back.
He’ll play his first NHL game since May 3, 2025 on Tuesday night against the Penguins.
O’Connor underwent hip surgery in June with an initial timeline to return of 5-6 months. But even with some setbacks along the way, O’Connor is now ready to make his season debut.
He has a message that the Avalanche released and it’s a good look at his mindset through this journey.
The Mayor returns tonight. pic.twitter.com/Bw1C3NTOSw
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 24, 2026
Clearly, this has been a tough stretch for O’Connor.
Having surgery is usually a major deal, especially when it’s going to sideline that player for nearly half a calendar year. This went on even longer, extending almost 11 months.
But he has the right attitude, knowing that as a little kid he’d be thrilled to return to an Avalanche team that has a legitimate shot at winning a Stanley Cup this season.
O’Connor, who’s great on the penalty kill and projects to skate on Colorado’s fourth-line, has registered at least 20 points each of the last four seasons. He scored 13 goals in the 2023-24 campaign and 10 goals last year.
The former DU product inked a six-year contract extension that runs through 2031, making $2.5 million per year. He’s part of the Avalanche’s plans moving forward — so this is a big day.
When it’s taken this long to get back there have been some frustrating moments along the way, but O’Connor can help the Avalanche chase a championship this year.
Also returning to the lineup will be Ross Colton while captain Gabriel Landeskog came back on Sunday and scored a goal.
Colorado is getting healthier at the right time with the postseason set to start in a little more than three weeks.
