Colorado Avalanche News

The Lightning have signed Alex Barre-Boulet to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Barre-Boulet, 20, is an undrafted free agent in his fourth season in the QMJHL. The undersized forward (5-foot-9 / 167 lbs) isn’t the first small, undrafted free agent the Lightning have signed in years past. Barre-Boulet has picked up an impressive 49 goals and 55 assists (104 points) in just 57 games with Blainville-Boisbriand this season.

Alex Barré-Boulet
MacKinnon (shoulder) returned to practice in a no-contact jersey on Tuesday.

MacKinnon is two weeks into a 2-4 week timetable, so he appears to be right on track in his recovery. The next step is for MacKinnon to ditch the no-contact sweater, which could happen later this week. MacKinnon will need a few practices before he’s set to return to the lineup.

Nathan MacKinnon
MacKinnon is expected to miss 7-to-10 days with a shoulder injury.

It looks like the Avalanche avoided disaster here as MacKinnon’s shoulder injury is only expected to sideline him for about one week. The Avalanche likely won’t disclose a full timetable until Thursday but the preliminary indications are positive. MacKinnon won’t play Thursday but has not officially been ruled out for Saturday’s game.

Nathan MacKinnon
MacKinnon is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and will not play Thursday in Edmonton.

MacKinnon was hurt in Tuesday’s overtime loss in Vancouver and won’t play in Edmonton. This is a horrible loss for the Avalanche, who have been absolutely carried by MacKinnon since the Matt Duchene trade. Since then, MacKinnon leads the NHL with 49 points (21G / 28A) in 36 games. It sounds like he is more day-to-day than long-term so monitor his status heading into the weekend.

Nathan MacKinnon
The Devils have recalled Mackenzie Blackwood from Binghamton (AHL).

Blackwood, 21, was a second round pick (No.42 overall) in 2015 and has earned a call-up because Cory Schneider (lower-body) and Keith Kinkaid (groin) are both hurt. Blackwood, who has gone 5-12-0 with a 3.64 GAA and .877 SV% in 23 games with Binghamton, will backup Ken Appleby on Thursday.

Mackenzie Blackwood
Wedgewood will start Friday vs. the Capitals.

Wedgewood allowed three goals on 37 shots in the Coyotes loss in Chicago on December 10th. Antti Raanta started the last three games but Wedgewood will start the front-end of the Coyotes back-to-back tonight. In his first start vs. the Capitals, Wedgewood allowed three goals on 40 shots in a 3-2 OT loss.

Scott Wedgewood