Oct 28, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton (20) controls the puck under pressure from Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser (44) in the second period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

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Avalanche’s Ross Colton to Miss Time After Foot Injury, Adding to Colorado’s Forward Woes

Colorado Avalanche Face Struggles as Key Forwards Remain Out, Challenging Stanley Cup Aspirations

Avalanche player Ross Colton will be out for a while due to blocking a shot with his foot in the recent game against the Blackhawks, as stated by head coach Jared Bednar to reporters, including Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette. He was able to move around after the game but departed Ball Arena wearing a walking boot.

Colton, who was 28 years old, had taken on the responsibility of filling those gaps as effectively as possible. Planned to play as the third center after Nathan MacKinnon and Casey Mittelstadt, Colton is now playing as the left winger on the first line with MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

Just when you thought the Avs' injury luck was about to turn …

From @cmasisak22 https://t.co/EiQqwIJwhz
— Denver Post Sports (@DPostSports) October 29, 2024

He has replied with eight goals leading the team and four power-play goals leading the league, playing an average of 18:38 per game and keeping up his physical style of play. He is the team leader in hits with 28 and also leads Avs forwards in blocks with nine, but this has unfortunately resulted in what appears to be a several-week absence.

The Colorado forward group is facing another challenge with Gabriel Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, and Valeri Nichushkin out for the entire season, and Jonathan Drouin missing every game except the season opener. Rawal recently announced that Drouin’s upper-body injury has improved, indicating that he is nearing his return and is now considered day-to-day. However, for a team aiming for the Stanley Cup, not having its top four wingers all at once, especially for most of a month, understandably seems like a never-ending and overwhelming obstacle.

Reviewing the Colorado Avalanche’s season to date and the remaining schedule for October

In the 2024-25 season, the Colorado Avalanche started off as one of the top five teams favored to win the Stanley Cup. However, their campaign began slowly with four consecutive defeats.

The team lost their first game of the season against the Vegas Golden Knights away, and then proceeded to lose three consecutive games at home. Alexandar Georgiev was the goalie for three of the losses against the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, and Boston Bruins. Next, on October 18, the team secured their inaugural victory of the season against the Anaheim Ducks in overtime, before embarking on a three-game road trip.

On October 20, the team competed against the San Jose Sharks, securing their second consecutive victory, and then went on to beat the Seattle Kraken on October 22. The team’s latest victory was a 5-1 win against the Utah Hockey Club, improving their season record to 4-4-0. After facing the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, the Avalanche will have a back-to-back game against the Chicago Blackhawks at home. That will happen prior to ending the month on Wednesday with a home match against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Image Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Colorado Avalanche

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Anamika Shrivastava

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I’ve always loved writing and storytelling, and hockey gives me a perfect stage for endless stories to tell. Whether it’s breaking down a game, analyzing a big trade, or capturing the emotions on the ice, I bring the NHL to life through words. So what’s the best part you ask? Watching the action unfold and turning it into something fans can connect with. To my readers: Hockey is more than just a game—it’s the highs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that make us jump off our seats. So, keep cheering, keep debating, and never stop loving the madness of the sport!