It's a week out since the NHL trade deadline and the Avalanche find themselves still standing atop the NHL and the Western Conference. Certainly after a string of odd injuries and some lineup adjustments, the Avs are probably grateful that their GM was as active as he was during the previous week.
The question of who would play in the 3C position between Nic Roy and Nazem Kadri, meanwhile, has been answered for now. Kadri is filling in on the top line while injuries to Gabe Landeskog (week to week), Arturi Lehkohnen (week-to-week) and Ross Colton (day-to-day) sideline parts of the Avs deep forward group. In the Avs' game against the Seattle Kraken, Kadri scored his first goal back in an Avalanche uniform in their lone win in the last week.
Aw, nuts
Perhaps missing Landeskog from the lineup after his lower body injury, the Avalanche lost two of their three games this week, unable to rally and overcome their goal deficits when playing against Canadian teams.
The Avs lost 4-3 in overtime to the Edomonton Oilers in which Nathan MacKinnon was (wrongly) ejected from the game for running into Connor Ingram. MacKinnon was assessed a major and thrown from the game, and though the team was able to rally without him, it was Connor McDavid who got the last laugh with the go ahead goal halfway through the third period.
MacKinnon and the Avs took their frustration from the wrongful ejection out on the Kraken, putting up five total goals, including four points (1 goal, 3 assists) from the man himself. Nick Blankenburg made his debut in an Avs' uniform, dressing as their seventh defenseman for the night.
In the central, Colorado still has a three point advantage over the next best team in the Dallas Stars, though losses to the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets, who are trying their damnedest to do a first-to-worst regression this season after winning the President's Trophy last year, doesn't help their place in the standings. Colorado's most recent game was a 3-1 loss in Winnipeg, with their lone goal coming from last year's trade acquisition Martin Necas.
Since returning from the Olympics, Necas has had 18 points (9 goals, 9 assists) in 10 games and has been crucial in helping the Avs keep ahead in the division.
On the horizon
The Avalanche should be seeing some reinforcements coming over the next couple of weeks, with the hopeful return of Landeskog, Lehkonen, and potentially Logan O'Connor. Colton should be back sooner than the others, as Bednar indicated that his injury from the Oilers game was not long term, though he has missed the last two games.
The Avalanche face a full slate of games with four matchups in the next week, including playing host to the Stars on Wednesday night. While there aren't enough games to make up the current deficit, if the Avs lose to Pittsburgh and the Stars win their next two games (including Wednesday night), Colorado may find themselves looking up at Dallas for the first time this season.