MacKinnon missed the first two games of the season but received two negative COVID-19 tests and flew to Washington to join his team for Tuesday's game. MacKinnon will provide a huge boost to an Avalanche team that will be without Gabriel Landeskog (suspended) and Valeri Nichushkin.
Barre-Boulet played just 8:12 TOI on Saturday and has one assist in two games while averaging 8:39 TOI/gm. Barre-Boulet will be replaced by Kole Lind.
The Avalanche are about to embark on a three-game road trip and MacKinnon will miss at least one more game after testing positive yet again.
Blackwood continues to rehab his heel injury and is not expected to be available for Friday's game vs. the Blackhawks. With Blackhwood still out, Jonathan Bernier is expected to start with Scott Wedgewood serving as the backup.
Landeskog planted Kirby Dach into the centre ice boards in Wednesday's win over the Blackhawks and will miss Saturday's game vs. St. Louis and Tuesday's game in Washington. He is eligible to play next Thursday in Florida.
Barre-Boulet was claimed off of waivers from the Lightning on Monday but did not play in their season opener on Tuesday. With Marcus Johansson landing on IR on Wednesday, Barre-Boulet will draw into the lineup tonight vs. the Predators.
MacKinnon tested positive but is asymptomatic, so he will miss Wednesday's season opener. The Avalanche are hopeful that MacKinnon will test out of COVID-19 protocol and will be available for Saturday's game vs. the Blues.
MacKinnon missed Tuesday's practice because of COVID-19 protocol, putting his status for tomorrow's season opener in jeopardy. Monitor his status during Wednesday's morning skate.
Kelley is a 22-year-old undrafted free agent, who scored a goal in his NHL debut with the Senators last season. He spent almost the entire season in the AHL, scoring 10 goals with eight assists (18 points) in 33 games with Belleville.
Barre-Boulet was an undrafted free agent who has put up outstanding point totals in the QMJHL and AHL. Last season he had 12 points (8G / 4A) in 10 games with Syracuse but just three goals in 15 games with the Lightning. In Seattle, he'll have a chance to make an immediate impact, especially with four forwards on the COVID-19 protocol list to open the season.
Francouz was injured in Colorado's preseason vs. the Golden Knights and will miss at least three weeks with a lower-body injury. This is a tough start to the season for Francouz, who missed all of 2021 with a lower-body injury. With Franocuz out, Jonas Johansson will likely start the year as Darcy Kuemper's backup.
Toews had shoulder surgery in the offseason and has resumed skating but is expected to miss at least a few games to open the 2021-22 season. With Toews out, Jack Johnson was brought into training camp on a PTO and could earn a contract with the Avalanche.
O'Connor is entering the final-year of a two-year deal worth $725K AAV. He earned a moderate raise to $1.05M AAV that carries through 2024-25. The 25-year-old winger had three goals and two assists (five points) in 25 games in 2202-21.
The Avalanche waited until the final moments to sign Landeskog to a max eight-year contract worth $7.0M AAV. Landeskog will turn 29 this year, so he will be 36-years-old when the deal wraps up. Landeskog has been outstanding during the two shortened campaigns, scoring at a 31-goal and 42-assist (73 points) per 82 game pace.
