Colorado Avalanche News

Colorado coach Jared Bednar has confirmed star centre Nathan MacKinnon is day-to-day after leaving practice early Saturday. MacKinnon hopes to be ready and healthy for the Avalanche's opening game Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 27-year-old signed an eight-year, $100,800,000 contract extension this past September after finishing 2021-22 with 32 goals and 88 points in 65 games. It was his fifth straight season finishing above a point-per-game and his seventh straight with 200 or more shots on goal.

Landeskog is dealing with an injury from last season and will not skate "anytime soon," according to head coach Jared Bednar. Landeskog will miss the start of the season, but it's unclear how long he will be sidelined.

McKinnon had been one of the most underpaid players in the NHL for years but will have the highest AAV when the 2024 season starts at $12.6. McKinnon missed 17 games last season but was on pace for 111 points (40G / 71A) over 82 games. He also led the playoffs in goals (13) and won his first Stanley Cup. Overall, 2022 was a great year for Nathan MacKinnon.

In his first three NHL seasons, Olofsson has averaged 24 goals and 32 assists (56 points) per 82 games. Olofsson finished the 2021-22 season on a heater, scoring 13 goals with 12 assists (25 points) in his final 28 games.

The Avalanche acquired Manson from the Ducks in mid-March and he had 15 points (5G / 10A) in 42 combined games between the regular season and playoffs. Manson sticks around as a top-4 D option to play alongside Samuel Girard/Bowen Byram.

Wedgwood was a revelation for the Stars in 2022, going 3-1-3 with a .913 SV% in eight games after being acquired from the Coyotes. Braden Holtby is a UFA, Ben Bishop, who is not expected to play again, was traded to Buffalo and Anton Khudobin is out until at least September, so Wedgewood enters 2022-23 as the Stars' No.2 behind Jake Oettinger.

Nichushkin was limping noticeably after Game 5 and was questionable for Game 6 but is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play in Tampa on Sunday. Nichushkin has been a difference-maker in the Stanley Cup Final, scoring four goals with two assists (six points) in the first five games.