O'Connor underwent hip surgery last June and has yet to play this season. He started practicing last week and could be targeting a return during Colorado's upcoming four-game road trip. The 29-year-old O'Connor has been a reliable bottom-six forward for several seasons with Colorado. He has 21 points (10G / 11A) in 80 games last season.
With Mackenzie Blackwood struggling in recent games, Colorado relied a bit more heavily on Wedgewood, who will return to the crease on Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Wedgewood saved 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. Since returning from the Olympic break, Wedgewood has a dazzling 1.26 GAA and .954 SV% in five appearances (5-0-0). The Avalanche enter Monday's contest as significant -223 home favourites against a Penguins team that will welcome Evgeni Malkin back into the lineup from a five-game suspension.
With Mackenzie Blackwood struggling in recent games, Colorado relied a bit more heavily on Wedgewood, who will return to the crease on Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Wedgewood saved 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. Since returning from the Olympic break, Wedgewood has a dazzling 1.26 GAA and .954 SV% in five appearances (5-0-0). The Avalanche enter Monday's contest as significant -223 home favourites against a Penguins team that will welcome Evgeni Malkin back into the lineup from a five-game suspension.
Stjernberg is an undrafted 23-year-old defenseman that has earned himself an entry-level contract after wrapping up collegiate hockey career. He had 10 points (6G / 4A) in 25 games with Bowling Green State University this season.
Mackenzie Blackwood has allowed eight goals on 35 shots (.771 SV%) in his last two games, paving the way for Scott Wedgewood to tend the twine on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has been a pleasant surprise for Colorado all season, but has been exceptionally impressive since returning from the Olympic break, posting a stellar 1.33 GAA and .951 SV% in four games (4-0-0). Colorado enters the action on Thursday as sizable -208 road favourites against a Seattle team on a three-game losing streak (0-3-0).
O'Connor underwent hip surgery last June and has yet to play this season. He practiced on Tuesday, albeit in a non-contact jersey, an encouraging sign towards his impending season debut. The 29-year-old O'Connor has been a reliable bottom-six forward for several seasons with Colorado. He has 21 points (10G / 11A) in 80 games last season.
Blackwood had an awful performance in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 11 shots (.636 SV%) before being replaced in the second period by Scott Wedgewood, who shut the door in an eventual 5-4 shootout victory over the Dallas Stars. The 29-year-old Blackwood will look to redeem himself on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers, whom he has yet to face this season, but struggled against in two 2024-25 meetings (1-1-0), posting a 4.06 GAA and .855 SV%. The Avalanche enter Tuesday's contest as -170 home favourites.
Blackwood had an awful performance in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 11 shots (.636 SV%) before being replaced in the second period by Scott Wedgewood, who shut the door in an eventual 5-4 shootout victory over the Dallas Stars. The 29-year-old Blackwood will look to redeem himself on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers, whom he has yet to face this season, but struggled against in two 2024-25 meetings (1-1-0), posting a 4.06 GAA and .855 SV%. The Avalanche enter Tuesday's contest as -170 home favourites.
Schwartz suffered an upper-body injury in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators and exited the contest after only 6:27 time-on-ice. The 33-year-old veteran forward has been productive offensively in a middle-six role and will be sorely missed, out week-to-week, for a Seattle team that struggles to generate offence. Schwartz has 21 points (10G / 11A) in 42 games this season.
With Brad Marchand (undisclosed) sidelined, Hinostroza will re-enter the Panthers' lineup on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 31-year-old Hinostroza scored 10 points (3G / 7A) in 48 games with Minnesota before being acquired by Florida ahead of the trade deadline.
Kadri's name had circulated in trade rumours for weeks and was finally traded in a last-minute deal before the deadline to a team he had tremendous success with, the Colorado Avalanche. Kadri scored a career-high 87 points (28G / 59A) in 71 games with the Avalanche in the 2021-22 season en route to a Stanley Cup Championship. Now in his age-35 season, Kadri has remained an effective player, scoring 41 points (12G / 29A) in 61 games with Calgary.
In a meeting between the top two teams in the league standings, Colorado will turn to Blackwood on Friday against the Dallas Stars. The 29-year-old Blackwood has a solid 2.03 GAA and .914 SV% in three games since returning from the Olympic break, continuing an outstanding first full season in Colorado. The Avalanche enter Friday's action as -116 road favourites against a Stars team that is riding a franchise-best 10-game winning streak and has outscored their opposition 19-6 in their last four games.
Colorado acquired Nicolas Roy from Colorado for a 2027 1st round pick and a 2026 5th round pick earlier this week and he is expected to make his team debut on Friday against the Dallas Stars. Roy has become a valuable bottom-six center in the NHL and will bring that presence to Colorado as they set their sights on a deep playoff run. The 29-year-old Roy averaged 14:45 time-on-ice, recording 20 points (5G / 15A), 32 blocks, and 61 hits in 59 games this season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Hinostroza had a brief stint with the Florida Panthers in the 2020-21 season and will return there after spending most of the past two seasons with the Minnesota Wild. The 31-year-old forward averaged 10:18 time-on-ice and scored 10 points (3G / 7A) in 48 games this season with Minnesota.
