Logan O’Connor’s hip surgery raises questions for Colorado Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor had hip surgery on Friday, marking the second time in two years the 28-year-old has gone under the knife.

O’Connor had his first hip surgery back in 2024 to repair a torn labrum. The surgery sidelined him toward the end of the 2023-24 season, limiting him to just 57 games.

This past season, however, O’Connor was seemingly healthy, suiting for 80 regular-season games and all seven postseason contests. Yet, it was deemed O’Connor needed surgery to address an undisclosed issue.

In my estimation, the surgery must have had some preventive element to it, though I am not an orthopedic surgeon. I make this point because it didn’t seem like O’Connor was playing hurt. He played his usual griding style and looked like the little engine that could.

His production this past season was in line with his career averages. So, it wasn’t like there was a noticeable drop in his numbers. That’s why it seems to me that O’Connor could have addressed a situation now before it became a bigger issue.

Plus, doing it now, during the summer, was the best way to go as the recovery time is estimated to be between five and six months.

Judging by that timeline, it looks like the operation could have something akin to the original labrum injury. Although, it’s doubtful the second surgery was on the same hip. As the Denver Post reported, Draisaitl. Bryan Kelly, the surgeon who performed the procedure, merely stated that it was successful.

O’Connor like out till November for Colorado Avalanche

Given the procedure and the recovery timeline, it looks like Logan O’Connor will miss all of training camp and the beginning of next season. Early estimates place O’Connor returning to the Avalanche lineup until November.

However, injuries can be unpredictable. O’Connor may return ahead of schedule or he could be out longer than expected.

There’s something else I’d like to add here. O’Connor’s injury provides the Avalanche with some unexpected cap relief. He’ll go on LTIR, giving the Avalanche savings of $2.5 million until he returns.

Of course, those savings will be short-lived as O’Connor doesn’t seem likely to miss the entire season. But at the very least, it gives the team a small break moving forward. The impending cap-clearing deal we’ve been talking about could be delayed somewhat as a result of O’Connor’s surgery.

The University of Denver product will be entering the first year of a six-year contract extension worth an AAV of $2.5 million.

Here’s hoping that Logan O’Connor makes a full recovery.