Jonathan Drouin was injured in the first game of the season and has been out since. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar shifted lines around to find some chemistry which I feel played a part in the 0-4-0 start to the season with players who may not be in the lineup come a month from now. With top producers sidelined, it has been a “let’s put these guys together and see if it works” kind of approach.

Ross Colton moved from center to wing and has been playing with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. This combination has worked well as the 28-year-old has racked up seven points in seven games (6G, 1A). But Colton’s success is just an example of how elite MacKinnon and Rantanen are, which he has openly admitted.

“Just trying to play my game. Getting elevated to play with Mikko and Nate, they kind of make it easy for me out there. So again, just play my game. Try and play fast, check pucks back and get into the open areas. Because again, two of the best players in the league, if you get open, they’re going to find you,” Colton said.

The wingers who have played with the top-line duo have succeeded. Drouin is case in point. He had a career season last year and spent the majority of it on the top line. Bednar acknowledged other players achievements on that line and referred to Colton as the fourth in line.

“That’s a prototypical player that I like to put with Mikko and Mac. Whether that’s Lehky (Artturi Lehkonen), Val (Nichushkin) Landy (Gabriel Landeskog), or Colts (Colton) recently. Number one, you got to be a trusted defensive player because you’re playing against other teams top guys all the time. Number two, you got to be able to handle those types of minutes.

“He may be the fourth guy down the list on this, but he’s played really well, and he’s done it. I think he’s excited for that opportunity, and he’s sort of thriving in that role,” Bednar said last week.

So will Drouin return to that top line when he’s healthy? And what will happen when Lehkonen and Nichushkin get back in the lineup? And when the captain comes back? The answers to these questions lie on how the players connect with linemates when they return to the ice.

Lehkonen played with Casey Mittelstadt last season and the two connected for steady production, so I anticipate those two staying together. Nichushkin also played on the first and second lines and found success on both. He is the wild card due to the circumstances of his being away from the team but nonetheless, MacKinnon and Rantanen are competitors and want to win a Stanley Cup. I expect they will shelf their emotions on the matter to get Ws if Nichushkin comes back at the same level he was at when he was removed from the team.

For now, I expect Bednar to keep players who are producing together and not disturb that hot hand. But once there is a drop, he will likely shift players around again to find as much consistency from his team possible. That may mean moving Colton back to center and putting Drouin back with MacKinnon and Rantanen.