The Colorado Avalanche have some room on their roster at the moment to insert a player or two who are irregulars and that is what we should expect over the final three games of the season. The team announced Sunday that they recalled defenseman Jack Ahcan from the Colorado Eagles, the Avs’ AHL affiliate.
Cale Makar won’t be playing on Monday night against the Edmonton Oilers, and while Ahcan would be a third-pair defenseman, Makar’s absence bumps somebody up to the top unit. Expect Sam Malinski to play alongside Devon Toews, Makar’s usual line-mate.
Ahcan hasn’t produced in terms of scoring for the Avalanche, but has two assists and five shots in nine games this season. At 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, Ahcan is ultra small for an NHL player, though we’ve seen some guys over time play decently well despite being small.
Ahcan has 11 goals and 39 assists in 60 games for the Eagles this season. Perhaps he can continue his hot season into games with the Avs going forward.
Gavin Brindley is also 5-foot-8 and even weighs less than Ahcan. Brindley himself has played in 56 games for the Avs this season, recording six goals and seven assists. He’s been with the Eagles for a little bit this year, playing in seven games and recording one goal and two assists.
At this point in the season, the Avalanche have locked up everything they need to before the postseason begins. Makar is out, and Nazem Kadri won’t suit up tonight or Tuesday night against his old team.
Valeri Nichushkin is three goals away from having a 20-goal season. He also has 47 points on the year, so getting to 50 would be nice for him. Gabriel Landeskog has 13 goals in his first full season back from his viral knee injury. Getting him at least two more would be pretty awesome.