The Colorado Avalanche may get some relief on their upcoming five-game road trip starting in Buffalo. Ross Colton is skating and will travel with the team.
“He’s coming along. So he’s going to be one guy that makes the trip,” head coach Jared Bednar said after Monday morning’s practice.
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Bednar confirmed there’s a chance Colton could play, which is why he is going and other injured players are staying behind.
The 28-year-old broke his foot on Oct. 28 and was given a 6-8 week timeline. Monday marks five weeks since the injury so he is right on schedule.
Colton earned nine points in 10 games before being put on the injured reserve list. He spent last season as the third-line center with Miles Wood and Logan O’Connor and that’s how this season started.
Jonathan Drouin was injured in Game 1 so lines shifted. Colton ended up on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. He moved to the No. 1 power-play unit and averaged 18:38 ice time. He scored four power-play goals and is No. 2 for PPG behind Rantanen.
Drouin missed 16 games and was injured again after being back for only four games. He is listed as week-to-week. Since Colton has been out, Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin rejoined the team. It is unclear where Colton will play in the lineup, but Bednar confirmed his position.
“I’d like to start him back on the wing. I thought he played really well there, and (Ivan) Ivan’s doing a nice job at center right now,” Bednar said. “Both guys have played good in both positions, but I thought Colton was just outstanding on the wing at the start of the year. So if we can keep him there, we will.”