Avalanche’s Logan O’Connor expected to make season debut against Lightning

Some reinforcements are coming to the team in the Mile High City.

When speaking to the media on Monday, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar stated that forward Logan O’Connor is expected to make his season debut on Friday night, when the Avalanche host the Tampa Bay Lightning.

O’Connor has to wait until Friday to play, as he has been on injured reserve. He missed the final two preseason games with a lower-body injury and was ruled out of the team’s season opener last month. The 30-year-old was trending to being in the lineup over a week ago, but he decided to step away from the team, joining his family after his father’s passing, which was announced on Oct. 8.

O’Connor is hoping that he can stay healthy for the rest of the 2026-27 season. He had a late start last year, as offseason hip surgery kept him on the shelf until March. He ended up posting just two assists in 13 regular-season games, but did score a goal and an assist in Colorado’s run to the Western Conference Final, where the Presidents’ Trophy winners fell to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Missouri City, Texas native will be entering his ninth season with the Avs. The undrafted winger has been a solid depth piece in Denver, though he has shown glimpses of offensive upside, posting four straight 20-point seasons before the 2025-26 campaign.

O’Connor is in the second season of his six-year contract extension, which he signed in September 2024. The deal carries an AAV of $2.5 million, with a modified no-trade clause where the player submits a six-team no-trade list.

In 356 career regular-season appearances, O’Connor has notched 45 goals and 60 assists for 105 points, with another 13 points in 51 postseason games. He was part of the Avalanche’s run to the Stanley Cup in 2022.

The Avalanche (5-2-1) take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night.