Toews had shoulder surgery in the offseason and has resumed skating but is expected to miss at least a few games to open the 2021-22 season. With Toews out, Jack Johnson was brought into training camp on a PTO and could earn a contract with the Avalanche.
O'Connor is entering the final-year of a two-year deal worth $725K AAV. He earned a moderate raise to $1.05M AAV that carries through 2024-25. The 25-year-old winger had three goals and two assists (five points) in 25 games in 2202-21.
The Avalanche waited until the final moments to sign Landeskog to a max eight-year contract worth $7.0M AAV. Landeskog will turn 29 this year, so he will be 36-years-old when the deal wraps up. Landeskog has been outstanding during the two shortened campaigns, scoring at a 31-goal and 42-assist (73 points) per 82 game pace.
Makar appeared in 10 playoff games in 2019, burning the first year of his entry-level contract, so he needed to be re-signed after just two regular seasons in the NHL. Over that time, the 2017 No.4 overall pick is tied for fourth among defensemen in points (94) but second in points-per-game (0.93) while appearing in 101 of the 126 games. As of now, Makar is tied for the fourth highest-paid defenseman ($9.0M AAV) heading into 2021-22.
Lehkonen was forced to leave Game 3 last night after a collision with Rasmus Sandin and did not return. If Lehkonen is unavailable for Game 4, look for Eric Staal (undisclosed) to draw back in and take his place.
MacKinnon was held out of the lineup in four of the final five games of the regular season but was on the ice in the days leading up to Game 1, so all signs point towards him being available on Monday. MacKinnon had another outstanding season, scoring 20 goals with 45 assists (65 points) in 48 games.
Kelly was an undrafted free agent signing out of the WHL (Prince Albert) who has scored seven goals with five assists (12 points) in 28 games this season. On Wednesday he will skate with Logan Brown and Alex Formenton on the Senators' fourth line.
MacKinnon returned to the Avalanche lineup on Monday but will be held out of Wednesday's game and most likely tomorrow's as well. This appears to be precautionary with very little to gain in the final two games of the regular season.
Girard has missed the last six games but will play Wednesday vs. the Kings. it's unclear who Girard will replace but it gives him the opportunity to get back up to game speed with the playoffs just around the corner.
