Colorado has faced their first real challenge this season. Last week, the club lost two key players, leaving fans craving for an Avalanche injury update. Fortunately, the news has been largely positive, despite the evident loss of crucial pieces.
On Tuesday, the Denver Post’s Corey Masisak shed light on the timelines for blueliner Devon Toews and captain Gabriel Landeskog in his Avalanche injury update. He said both are currently listed as week-to-week.
#Avs coach Jared Bednar said Gabe Landeskog will miss “some weeks” with his upper-body injury. Too early to rule out the Olympics.
He said Devon Toews is week-to-week. Best-case scenario for him might be two weeks. He’s expected back before Landeskog, though.
— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) January 6, 2026
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Colorado fans immediately breathed a sigh of relief. The biggest fear was losing Landeskog for an extended period. The Avs’ captain missed nearly three seasons due to a major knee injury. That’s why this latest Avalanche injury update was the most encouraging of all.
The Avalanche lost Landeskog during the second period of Sunday night’s tilt against the Florida Panthers. He left the game in agony following a collision into the Panthers’ net. The replay showed the goalpost hitting Landeskog square in the ribs. Fortunately, it seems the incident looked much worse than it really was.
As for Toews, he reportedly sustained an upper-body injury despite sliding feet-first into the boards on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Toews left midway through the first period and did not return.
Ultimately, this latest Avalanche injury update is certainly positive. Both players could be back on the ice sooner rather than later, signaling their availability for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
Avalanche Injury Update: A Silver Lining amid Tough Stretch
The Avalanche have been a juggernaut this season. The club has lost just four games in regulation this season. However, two of those losses have come in the last two games. The back-to-back defeats mark the first time this season that the Avalanche have lost consecutive games in regulation.
The losses highlight just how much the absence of Toews and Landeskog has weighed heavily on the Avalanche.
The two games in South Florida, against the Panthers and Lightning, were akin to playoff games. The Landeskog injury clearly shell-shocked the team, leading to a 2-1 loss. The game wasn’t bad, but the Avalanche just couldn’t get through the Panthers’ relentless forecheck and tight defensive system.
Following the game, the Avalanche injury update noted that Landeskog had an upper-body injury. That was good news, but it wasn’t enough to help the club rally in Tampa Bay. The Lightning threw everything at the Avs, pulling out a 4-2 win. The game was much closer than the score suggested, essentially coming down to a late goal by Tampa.
Ultimately, things could be poised for a turnaround. Another positive Avalanche injury update suggests that starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood could return on Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators at Ball Arena. The game will make up the first of a seven-game homestand for Colorado.
That situation could be the start of another prolonged winning streak for the NHL’s best team this season.
Main Photo Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images