The Avalanche’s deep defensive corps known throughout the league to be their greatest strength is almost back to full strength — finally.
Bo Byram and Josh Manson have been skating with the team this week, both still wearing non-contact jerseys during the final stretch before the NHL All-Star break. Byram has been out since early November, Manson since early December, both with lower-body injuries.
“(Byram) was a little bit behind Mans, but now he’s in a spot where he can join the team and get more action,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. Manson traveled with the Avs on their recent three-game road trip while Byram stayed back.
But now with Byram’s recent strides, he will “possibly” be available immediately after the break, Bednar said. Manson, meanwhile, was in a position to potentially return this week, but the red-hot Avalanche (26-17-3) decided it’s probably safer to give him the extra time.
“It’s a significant break,” Bednar said. “If the break was two or three days…. He’s going to be teetering on it for sure, but I think the extra time will do him good.”
Byram and Manson are expected to form Colorado’s second defensive pairing once healthy, replenishing the back end with players such as Erik Johnson, Sam Girard and Brad Hunt. Hunt, an AHL All-Star, has been an impressive scoring asset as a top-four defenseman with the NHL squad recently. Johnson played four consecutive games on the top pairing, while Cale Makar was also injured. (Makar is back in the lineup Thursday night vs. Anaheim, along with forward Denis Malgin.)
But as those vital players approach full health, the injury bug is keeping the Avalanche humble. Top-six forward Valeri Nichushkin was out Thursday with an upper-body injury — different from the ankle infliction he spent months recovering from. He’s classified as day-to-day.
The roster balanced out so that Colorado didn’t need to make a call-up before facing the Ducks: New trade acquisition Matt Nieto landed in Denver on Thursday morning, too late to make it to morning skate but not too late to join the lineup by game time.
Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis.
