Avalanche’s Blackwood, Girard, O’Connor injured to start training camp
The Colorado Avalanche opened training camp on Wednesday, with head coach Jared Bednar confirming that the group has several injuries that will hamper preseason preparations.
Bednar said that goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood will be out week-to-week, but is expected to be ready near the beginning of the year. Additionally, defenseman Sam Girard will miss time in camp due to a lower-body injury, but could be a contender for opening night.
Right winger Logan O’Connor could be out for longer with a hip injury, which would hold him out of the preseason, with expectations that he could return by the beginning of November.
Jared Bednar said that there are a handful of injuries:
Mackenzie Blackwood: week-to-week but expected to be ready near the beginning of the year
Logan O’Connor: hip (on track to be back beginning of November)
Sam Girard: lower-body injuries (expected to miss time in camp but…
Blackwood’s absence from the start of training camp leaves the Avalanche with 33-year-old veteran Scott Wedgewood as the only signed NHL goaltender. Four other goaltenders are currently in camp as well, including Kyle Keyser, Trent Miner, Mathis Langevin, and Isak Poch.
However, Bednar also said that he feels confident that Wedgewood can take on a more significant role to start the season and win them hockey games as Blackwood recovers.
Through the 2024-25 regular season, Blackwood and Wedgewood split time in the crease, with Blackwood playing 37 games after arriving in a trade from the San Jose Sharks, and Wedgewood 19. Yet, the six-game preseason schedule should allow the four other goaltenders an opportunity to impress.
Bednar used six different goalies through the NHL regular season in 2024-25, but only Blackwood, Wedgewood and Miner remain with the club.
Outside the crease, Girard skated in 78 NHL games with the Avalanche last season, scoring three goals and 24 points, while O’Connor had 10 goals and 21 points in 80 games.
The Avalanche are set to open their preseason schedule with a matchup against the Utah Mammoth on Sept. 21, before working their roster down to an opening night lineup for their season-opening contest against the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 7.