Kadri's Out For 'Some Games' and the Avs Are Banking on Getting Him Back Before It Matters

Nazem Kadri is sidelined with a finger injury, and Colorado coach Jared Bednar isn't taking any chances with the playoffs looming. The Avalanche expect to have their veteran forward miss "some games," though Bednar said Thursday that the team is hoping to get him back into the lineup before the postseason kicks off, potentially as soon as next week.

The Injury and the Timeline

Kadri got hurt during Tuesday night's 3-1 win over the Blues in St. Louis. It's not a long-term thing, but it's timing that forces Colorado to manage their depth down the stretch. The 35-year-old has been solid since arriving in a trade deadline deal with Calgary on March 6, posting four goals and five assists in 16 games. He was part of the squad that won the Stanley Cup back in 2022, so his experience matters when the stakes get highest.

The Avs Are Still Running Away With It

Here's the good news for Colorado fans: this injury doesn't change the fact that the Avalanche have already clinched the Central Division and locked up the top seed in the Western Conference. They've got five games left on the schedule, and Thursday night's matchup against Calgary gives them a chance to wrap up the Presidents' Trophy, which goes to the team with the best record in the entire NHL. That's not a consolation prize.

The Avs aren't alone in the injury department either. Defenseman Cale Makar is still out with an upper-body injury and will miss his fifth straight game. He was out there Thursday in a red, non-contact sweater, getting his feet back under him, so there's a path back for him as well before the playoffs arrive.

Colorado's got the luxury of time and positioning heading into the final stretch. Getting Kadri and Makar healthy and back in the lineup before the postseason is the real win here.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.