The Colorado Avalanche will be without forward Jonathan Drouin indefinitely, coach Jared Bednar confirmed on Wednesday.
According to reports on Daily Faceoff and PuckPedia, Drouin is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury. The precise nature of the injury is not known.
Drouin has played in five games this season, notching two goals and two assists for four points. Drouin was injured in the season’s first game. He missed roughly three weeks before returning in mid-November. He’s played four games since, and looked well.
However, it seems Drouin has reaggravated the upper-body injury hampering him earlier this season. It’s believed Drouin is dealing with a shoulder injury. There is no word if the injury could require surgery.
Drouin missed Monday night’s contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning. There was no word on why he wasn’t in the lineup, but the reason has now been confirmed.
Drouin signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal this season as he hit the free agent market over the summer.
This new stint on the injured list could impact Drouin’s tenure in Colorado. While he’s a good, productive player, the injury concerns may prompt the Avalanche to move on from Drouin. Perhaps it’s too soon to go down that road. But there’s no question this has been a frustrating season for the 29-year-old forward.
Colorado Avalanche will run the gauntlet without Drouin
The Avalanche have a tough three-games-in-four-nights stretch where they’ll face off against the Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, and Edmonton Oilers.
After Monday night’s meltdown in Tampa, the Avalanche will look to rebound and get back in the win column. While Drouin’s loss certainly impacts the team, the Avs have been incredibly resilient this season.
In the meantime, Artturi Lehkonen will be back on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. That trio has played well and should continue to light up the scoreboard.
Also, the second line consisting of Valeri Nichushkin, Casey Mittelstadt and Ivan Ivan should continue to gel. Ivan, in particular, has been a bit of a revelation this season. Ivan impressed at camp, started in the bottom six, and has gradually made his way up to the top six.
The big question remains in the crease. After Monday night’s debacle, there’s a good chance Alexandar Georgiev gets the call. Justus Annunen should play at least one of the next three games given the short rest in between.
It remains to be seen how well the Avs will bounce back after Monday night’s pounding. But knowing the team, the Avalanche should come out flying on Wednesday night.