Avalanche Injury Update: Medical Expert Fears Worst for Makar

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The next Colorado Avalanche injury update could have devastating news as one renowned medical expert fears the worst.

Colorado fans hope that the next Avalanche injury update brings good news. Avs fans felt their collective hearts sink when superstar defenseman Cale Makar left Monday night’s game against the Calgary Flames with an apparent injury.

The injury stemmed from a hit the Norris-Trophy winning blueliner took from the mountain that is Adam Klapka.

Makar stayed in the game, and even picked up an assist, but ended up leaving late in the second period and did not return. Here is a look at the play:

The hit, while thunderous, seemed innocuous enough. But it was enough to force Makar out of the game. The Avalanche injury update following the game did not provide any specifics on the situation.

Now, a renowned medical expert, Dr. Harjas Grewal, provided insight into what could be the outcome of this situation for Makar and the Avalanche. According to Dr. Grewal, Makar’s injury could range from a day-to-day ailment to requiring surgery. The worst-case scenario could knock Makar out for months.

If the worst should come to pass, the next Avalanche injury update could likely reveal Makar being out for the remainder of the season.

While the Avalanche are one of the deepest teams in recent memory, losing a Norris-caliber defenseman would be a devastating blow. Colorado is the odds-on favorite to win the 2026 Stanley Cup.

So, the hope will be that Makar is fine and just needs some rest.

Avalanche Injury Update Forthcoming on Tuesday

Following the game, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar stated that Makar will be evaluated on Tuesday. Likely, an Avalanche injury update would be forthcoming. The expectation will be that the team could reveal the injury’s nature and how long Makar could be out.

Ideally, the ailment would just be a minor issue requiring rest. The best-case scenario would be the organization erring on the side of caution. After all, the Avs are pretty much locked into the Western Conference’s top seed.

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Colorado Should Consider Shutting Makar Down for Remainder of Season

Even if the next Avalanche injury update reveals that Makar is just fine, the club might consider shutting him down for the remainder of the season.

The Avalanche have nine games remaining on the schedule. Assuming Makar is out day-to-day, there wouldn’t be much appetite to rush him back on the ice. If anything, Makar might play one or two games at the tail end of the season just to get in some action before the Olympics.

But if the situation is much worse, shutting him down for the final nine games would be the wisest choice. The last thing the Avalanche want if for their superstar blueliner to try and play through a significant injury.

The hope is that the forthcoming Avalanche injury update won’t be bad. Makar stayed in the game after the hit and left after a couple of shifts. That situation suggests that the hit might not have been as bad as it could have been.

It’s worth keeping in mind that fans and the media tend to overreact when a player of Makar’s stature gets injured. So, fingers crossed that it won’t be anything quite so bad.

Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan